T e c h n i c a l s u p p o r t

Transcription

1 T e c h n i c a l s u p p o r t

2 Implementation of an Agricultural Incubator in Rome Metropolitan Area Theme: Publicly owned enterprises and innovation Luca Polizzano BIC Lazio Coordinator of Bracciano Incubator

3 The Agricultural Business Incubator project : Recently BIC Lazio has decided to implement an innovative project by replacing the usual physical building with plots of land physically delimited with perimeter fences to be dedicated to incubation; Identification of the geographic area by Lazio Region and BIC Lazio: TusciaRomana(next January 2014 Tusciaromanawill be a part of the new Roma Metropolitan Area), a wide territory, characterized by: a high incidence of areas under protection about 80% of the total areas and a high percentage of rural and agricultural land.

4 What is the Objective? Over the past 10 years of activity in rural area a lot of peopleasked for support to start up enterprise in the agricultural sector Problem : the lack of land to cultivate. The idea was to offer land and specialized facilities to new entrepreneurs in agriculture. Specific target young peopleinterested in taking over the family business (processes of generational replacement) or in the recognition ofan existing entreprise(business transfer); undergraduates/graduates,particularly from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tuscia or from business schools, interested in starting new business ventures; researchers / professorsfrom Universities, Research Centers or from the production system, intending to enhance the products of researchthrough entrepreneurship; entrepreneursin the agrifoodsector interested in promoting / supporting outsourcing projects / diversification / growth through new business initiatives

5 Map of Tuscia Romana

6 Map of Tuscia Romana(some datas) 13 Municipalities 2 provinces 814 Km inhabitants (+70% in the last 20 years)

7 In thisperiodof deep crisis of unemployment, there are few positive signs of recovery and mainly in the agricultural sector. A recentsurveyfromthe Agricultural Producers Association Coldiretti (period: first 3 monthsof2012) pointsout a historictrend reversal: anincreaseforthe first timein the last 10 years, of4.2 % ofyoungfarmersregisteredwiththe ChambersofCommerce A recoverythathadneveroccurredbefore, and whichhasbeenpromotednotonlyby cyclical characteristics of the sector during times of crisis, but also thanks to the long- term effects introduced by different national and regional laws, that have revolutionized the business activities in the Italian countryside, setting up new employment opportunities. Farmers may, in fact, deal with activities ranging from business transformation productstotheirsale on the farm or in the markets, butalsothe provisionofservices tothe public administrationsuchasthoseforthe care ofpublic parks.

8 Lazio Region has decided to get involved in a project called IAgri in Braccianoto promote an economically sustainable development instead of using land in the Metropolitan Area exclusively for construction. IAgri is a highly complex project which: involves the existing regional incubator located in Bracciano specialized in agrofood sector businesses and operating since 2001 (photo 1) and will subsequently be implemented on fertile land (an innovative idea). What the land produces will then be processed by the agrofoodbusinesses and distributed to local shops, supermarkets and restaurants, thus creating a network of ECO SME s in a short-circuit economy. Photo 1: the existing physical incubator Photo 2: Land which will be incubated

9 The current Agricultural Incubator consists in: a building structure of square meters, built in 1997, located in the municipality of Bracciano, and covers a total area of m2 It offers: 14 spaces dedicated to host the production activities 4 offices located on the first floor, all of 50 square meters; 1 space dedicated to the development of entrepreneurial projects proposed by entrepreneurs; 1 conference room; 1 meeting room; 1 office dedicated to meetings for trade relations development and for entrepreneurs engaged in the activities of primary agricultural production 1 training room 1 computerized training room 1 space dedicated to reception (ground floor - entrance area).

10 And a land of hectares, located in the municipality of Bracciano and owned by the local Università Agraria(public body), on which 10 plots(about 3 hectares each one) will develop to host the activities of primary agricultural production. Each plot will have connection to utilities necessary for agricultural cultivation (2 wells with water storage, tank for irrigation and electrical substation with their distribution networks).

11 The agricultural land will be equipped with perimeter fencing, roads and a lightweight construction (prefabricated wood with white and black water sewer) used as a service area (toilets, changing rooms and showers, dining area).

12 The machinery and equipment will be purchased independently by the host companies according to their production needs, but it will possible to create a startup service company dedicated to provide common services. This Incubator should focus exclusively on short circuit economies and high-income income crops, ensuring a strong relationship with the University of Tuscia(Department of Science and TechnologyforAgriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy). Thisrelationshipisessentialtoensureanadequatescientificsupporttothe tutoring business projects, and to contribute to the enhancement of entrepreneurial skills by the University(undergraduate and graduate) and those engaged in the academic spin-off processes(professors, researchers).

13 Eligible sectors The eligible production chains is specified below: -milk -meat -cereals - fruit and vegetable -olive -wine - flower nursery -tobacco -forest - minor species breeding(snails, bees) - mushrooms and truffles - medicinal plants - small fruits - no-food agricultural crops(hemp and flax)

14 Giventhe extensionofeachplot, the connection between the primary agricultural production and processing activities is essential to achieve good economic income. In the cereal sector, for example, we can mention the cultivation of barleyforthe production ofbeer, or the cultivation of cereals(wheat) for the production of flour or bread. Some sectors, however, include traditional crops or livestock, able to develop independently, and with no connection with the business ofthe productprocessing, adequateincomeevenifdevelopedon 3 hectaresofland.

15 In general, prioritywillbegiventoprojectsin the field of organic/ biodynamic agriculture who wish to promote the diversification of the following activities: short production chainson the territory(cultivationofcerealsforthe production offlourtobeusedin localovens); use of species/ autochthonous variety which have a high risk of genetic erosion; inclusion of typical products with a European brand and traditional products of Lazio region; testing of innovative techniques(machinery or equipment); enterprise or research spin off; models of social farming

16 The Incubator provides a coordinated and integrated services system of: pre-incubation incubation(assistanceand supportin the pre-competitivephase) and incubation(assistanceand supportin the competitive phaseoffirst entry into the market) abletotransformideasand projectsgeneratedbypotentialentrepreneurs, researchers, or coming from the experiences of the production system into newenterprises. In particular: - support market analysis - tutoring business - specialist advice - assistance in the identification and access to funding sources - networking and network contracts - participation in trade fairs, B2B and company mission - participation in European competitions - preliminary assistance in patenting - support in strategic communications, media relations, events - laboratories and land for settlement of start-ups - farmer market - services and facilities(meeting rooms, classrooms, reception services) -entrepreneurialtraining

17 Some important dates On last September the project has been presented at Eataly store in Rome (Eataly is a high-end Italian food market/mall chain which first opened in Turin, in January 2007), by the new regional Agricultural Councillor of Lazio Region, Sofia Ricci. The facilities for the agricultural incubator will start in January From 1 of October to the 31 of December 2013 Expressions of Interest finalized to be hosted in the incubators will be collected (trough BIC Lazio s website)

18 After the press conference the attention to the Agricultural incubator grown exponentially. over 20 expression of interest were received Important national newspaper published news about the project, and the most important TV agricultural magazine Linea Verde will broadcast a report. On the left the news on la Repubblica, one of the most read newspaper in Italy

19 Partnership and stakeholders Institutional partners Bracciano Municipality* Lazio Region* Università agraria di Bracciano* Bracciano lake Park* Scientific Partners ViterboUniversity Agricultural department* ENEA RES National agency UTAGRI Technical Unit Sustainable development of the agroindudtry system; Arsial Regional Agency for the development and innovation in agriculture Trade Association Partners CIA Lazio Coldiretti Lazio Confagricoltura Lazio Lega Coop Lazio Bank Partners BCC diroma BCC di Formello e Trevignano Romano Monte dei Paschi di Siena* Other Partnership Slow Food Lazio* EATALY ARM * Formal agreement

20 Replicability of the initiative Three Roma Capitaledistricts have shown a strong interest to the results of the agricultural incubator project: if the experimentation will be a success they would reply the model in abandoned land inside the Rome urban area. For the moment they have asked to BIC Lazio to verify the possible location for new agricultural incubator Also the agricultural commissionof Italian Chamber of Deputies is interested in the project

21 Thank you for your attention! For more information: BIC Lazio Incubatore IAgri Via di Valle Foresta, Bracciano (RM) incubatore.iagri@biclazio.it