Italy: Tutto Bio 2012 published

The Italian organic yearbook is available now. At the 18th edition, is published by Bio Bank and edited by Achile Mingozzi and Rosa Maria Bertino. It costs 16 euros and can be purchased in various stores in Italy or online here. Over 9,500 organic operators in Italy are published on 336 pages. The new Bio Bank report is also featured, which compares the numbers of organic operators of 2011 to those of 2009.
 

The annual census is the heart of the Bio Bank Report. Work began in 1993, and since then the development of eight types of organic operators were studied and observed. Purchasing groups are the tireless protagonists in Italy. In the last three years, their number increased by 44 %, and is approaching 900, with at least as many informal groups. The sector is constantly moving, with 370 operators leaving and 800 joining.
 

Purchasing groups grew by 44 %, from 598 in 2009 to 861 in 2011
School canteens grew by 33 %, from 837 in 209 to 1,116 in 2011
E-commerce grew by 27 % from 132 in 209 to 167 in 2011
Restaurants grew by 17% from 228 in 2009 to 267 in 2011
Farm gate sales grew by 16 % from 2.176 in 2009 to 2,535 in 2011
Agri-tourism grew by 10 % from 1,222 in 2009 to 1,349 in 2011
Shops grew by 7 % from 1,132 in 2009 to 1,212 in 2011
Farmers markets decreased by 5 % from 225 in 209 to 213 in 2011
 

More than 9,500 organic operators in Italy are published TuttoBio, of which 3,800 are involved in direct sales. 2,535 farm gate sales with 1,349 agri-tourisms are introduced; 487 educational farms; 213 farmers’ markets; 894 purchasing groups; 1,212 shops; 10 organic supermarket brands and supermarkets; 5 online supermarkets; 267 restaurants; 15 catering companies; 1,116 school canteens; 71 food companies in the foreground, 167 e-commerce businesses; 223 companies for cosmetics and detergents; 125 fair trade companies; 12 control bodies; 154 associations; 33 fairs and 15 publications.
 

Trentino-Alto Adige the most important region for purchasing groups and school canteens regarding density of operators, taking into account the number of operators per 100,000 inhabitants. Valle d’Aosta is the most important region for shops and farmers’ markets, and Marche for restaurants, direct sales and agri-tourisms.
 

When it comes to absolute numbers, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardia and Toscana are the most important regions. Emilia-Romagna is the leader for e-commerce, direct sales and farmers’ markets, Lombardia for purchasing groups and for the first time for school canteens, restaurants and stores, and Toscana, - as always - for agri-tourism.
 

This year's theme of TuttoBio is "Look, listen, smell, touch, taste." Six stories are featured of educational organic farms where children rediscover the pleasure of experiencing all their senses. One hundred businesses show and explain their products like food, certified organic cosmetics and detergents in the yearbook. It is a showcase of product sheets full of news and information, completed by the list of certification bodies, with an example of organic labels, four on certifications on cosmetics in Italy and Europe, and much more. The Bio Card, which is also included, enables the users to get a discount of 10 % at 690 companies featured in Tutto Bio. The full Bio Bank Report 2012 is available here

BioBank