A Delegation from FAO visits Umbria

Representatives of FAO and the Umbria Region met this morning in the Hall of Honour in Palazzo Donini. The meeting was attended by Yoshihide Endo, GIAHS Programme Coordinator, President Catiuscia Marini, Regional Councillor Fernanda Cecchini, Sviluppumbria General Manager Mauro Agostini and the mayors of the olive belt towns.

The Assisi-Spoleto olive belt has been recognized by FAO as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (or GIAHS site).  It is the first Italian territory to attain this prestigious recognition. This confirms the ingenuity with which generations of farmers have set up production, using only the inherent natural resources, with practices adapted to local needs and with evolutionary processes of socio-cultural and ecological interaction and synergy. The result is the olive-growing landscape that everyone, visitors and locals alike, can admire and experience today.

Visit the page dedicated to the olive belt recognition

Download the Umbria Region press release

Interview with Yoshihide Endo

News about the prestigious recognition on the FAO website