An important step forward for the development of agri-food logistics
Signed in recent weeks by the Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Stefano Patuanelli, the Decree aimed at developing the logistics of the agri-food sector which will pass from improvement of the logistic capacity of the port areas in the different areas of Italy.
The planned investment for this intervention will be 150 million euros in 4 years taking into account the measure "Logistic development for the agri-food, fishing and aquaculture, forestry, floriculture and nursery sectors" of the PNRR.
And the agri-food sector is one of the main sectors concretely touched by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, with this Decree which represents the icing on the cake following several investments already made official in recent months, such as that of June, linked to the Contracts for agri-food logistics, for the benefit of companies in the sector, and that of August, referring instead to the modernization of wholesale markets with the aim of promoting agri-food logistics.
Environment and digital innovation once again at the center
But which projects are eligible for funding in this area?
There are several requirements to be met; let's see them together:
- the beneficiary companies will have to create, re-functionalize, expand, restructure and digitize areas, spaces and buildings connected to the activities and logistic processes of the port areas;
- it will be necessary to increase efficiency and improve commercial and logistical capacity through interventions aimed at strengthening the infrastructures for food transport, also in order to reduce environmental costs and emissions in the transport of raw materials, semi-finished products and goods between production centers, logistics centers and markets ;
- companies will have to improve accessibility to hub services and strengthen the security of port infrastructures also through the use of innovative and / or 'zero emissions' technologies;
- it will also be binding to strengthen product controls aimed at preserving the differentiation of products in terms of quality, sustainability and production characteristics, also in order to reduce food waste;
- all actions will in any case be aimed at reducing environmental impacts through energy requalification interventions and increasing the level of environmental protection.
Non-repayable loans to really invest in ports
What are the constraints for submitting the application?
Access to the grant can be requested by the Port System Authorities, with a maximum of two projects for each individual applicant: it should be specified that an amount equal to at least 40% of the resources dedicated to the measure, is intended to finance projects to be implement in the southern regions for development and growth in these areas.
The cost of the projects taken individually will have a minimum cost threshold of 5 million euro, up to a maximum of 20, with the funding that will not exceed 10 million euros.
In some of the categories of eligible investments, the contribution - in depth - granted, cannot exceed the difference between the eligible costs and the operating result of the investment.
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