Puglia Regional Hub

Primary production: Agriculture

Hub geographical area

Puglia is located in the south of Italy and it is one of the richest regions in Europe in terms of biological diversity. This is where agro-livestock farming originated in ancient times, handed down to the present day by those who have jealously guarded and valorised. Thus, the Apulia agricultural sector is of relevant importance in terms of employment, income and knowledge (that is why an innovation hub in agriculture was established).
The preservation of the genetic heritage of plants and animals, but also of microbial populations, is closely related to the evolutionary process that allows for the continuous adaptation of the entire agro-ecosystem to the changes taking place (e.g. the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium has severely affected the olive oil sector in Apulia (>750.000 ha) and the regional government is investigating opportunities to support local farmers in restoring their business and the regional ecosystem).

Hub topic(s)

The Regional Hub will examine its priorities depending on European, national and regional strategies and the opportunities offered by the EIP AGRI strategy. A number of supply chains of greatest interest has been identified (industrial hemp; organic fertilisers from the circular economy; innovative use of agricultural and agro-industrial residual biomasses). For every supply chain collaborations are being assessed between the Region and the Hub in order to allow their development. The identified supply chains will be proposed to the Hub’s stakeholders and then two of them will be selected to operate on.

Economic sectors, clusters and/or value chains involved)

The general economic sector identified is the Bioeconomy, that being a meta-sector is divided into several economic sectors. The selection of actors and value chains to be involved is being carried out.

Central valorisation activities in the hub

Activities are being evaluated.

Key policy drivers

It is considered useful to refer to broader strategies that, starting from the European ones, are applied in the Apulian context. For example, specific measures of Puglia’s RDP (deriving from the CAP) or PNRR calls addressed to local administrations (deriving from Next Generation Eu) will be considered.