The Municipality of Noto leads the Agroecological transition in Sicily
The Municipality of Noto leads the Agroecological transition in Sicily
The Memorandum of Understanding with the Sicilian Agroecology Coordination, the Agree Cap project by Kyoto Club Roma and the Storytelling Territory Green GloCal model by Sosia Comunicazione inaugurate the new path towards the agroecological transition of the Noto area.
Noto, February 10, 2025
On February 6, 2025, in the historic Hall of Mirrors of Palazzo Ducezio, Mayor Corrado Figura signed, together with Guido Bissanti, President of the Sicilian Agroecology Coordination, the first Memorandum of Understanding in Sicily for the agroecological transition of agricultural companies. The agreement, achieved thanks to the mediation of Rossana Danile of Sosia Comunicazione, further strengthens the commitment of the Municipality, which, as Mayor Figura underlines, had already obtained the D.E.C.O. guarantee mark, representing a fundamental piece to integrate a further narrative element of the Val di Noto, a symbol in Sicily of a perfect synergy between tradition and innovation, respecting the environment and local culture.
The choice of Noto is not accidental: being the largest municipality on the island and hosting a high number of organic farms, it is the ideal laboratory for experimenting with agroecological management models. These pilot realities will become the heart of educational projects and initiatives for the promotion of ecological tourism that enhances the combination of “territory and health” – a rapidly expanding trend that represents the need for new audiences/targets.
On February 7, the first concrete action of the agreement was also launched: thanks to the Agree Cap project of the Kyoto Club Roma, 100 students from three Sicilian agricultural technical institutes of Pachino, Rosolini and Caltagirone had the opportunity to visit the Busulmona Agricultural Company and the “Si può fare” Cooperative.
Led by Eugenio Barchesi and Angela Pagano, the young people listened to the experiences of companies involved in organic production, closely observed agroecological cultivation techniques and tasted local products, experiencing first-hand the challenges that the agricultural sector faces daily to guarantee the biodiversity from which Sicilian food and wine excellences are born, appreciated throughout the world. The study visit ended in Sala Gagliardo, in the municipal building, where Mayor Figura welcomed students and entrepreneurs, underlining the importance of a constant ecological dialogue to build a sustainable development model for the territory. During the meeting, the interventions focused on future prospects and actions to be implemented in the present: Eugenio Barchesi reiterated the need to give continuity to the path towards the sustainable production of goods and services in compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, Dr. Guido Bissanti illustrated the environmental, economic and social benefits of integrated agriculture based on agroecological principles, and Rossana Danile drew attention to the crucial role of communication in achieving local and global objectives, in compliance with the New Generation EU plan, the Farm to Fork strategy and the 17 objectives of the UN Agenda 2030 for “Responsible consumption and production”.
With the formalization of the Memorandum of Understanding and the success of the first educational visit, Noto starts an open and inclusive dialogue that will involve all local actors engaged in the enhancement and promotion of the territory in upcoming actions. This path, which integrates tradition, innovation, and sustainability, positions Noto as a virtuous model of “City in Agroecological Transition” and aims to strengthen the entire production system with a view to sustainable development, serving as an example for the entire region and for Italy.
A few days after the issuance of the implementing decrees of the Sicilian Region of the Regional Law 21 of July 29, 2021 promoted by the Hon. Valentina Palmeri, this is the first concrete impact on the largest territory of Sicily.
Rossana Danile