Italy: Green Train to Expo Milan 2015

The Green Train 2015 (Treno Verde 2015) has departed in Caltanissetta (Sicily) and is on its way to the Expo in Milan that will commence on 1 May 2015. This national campaign of Legambiente, the most widespread environmental organisation in Italy with 20 regional branches and 115,000 members, and the Italian Railway Group (Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane), is dedicated to agriculture and food this year.

Raise organic land in Italy from 9% to 20% in 2020

At 15 stops in Italy, the stories will be told of the best experiences of Italian quality agriculture with the view on Expo Milan. Among the novelties of the campaign is a conversion project that aims to raise organic land in Italy from 9% to 20% in 2020. The train departed on 18 February and will arrive in Milan on 11 April. On board is an educational and interactive exhibition as well as a travelling kitchen with the challenge to cook organics at zero kilometres.  
Picture: Lucio Cavazzoni, president of Alce Nero

Main partner of the Green Train the organic company Alce Nero

The main partner of the Green Train 2015 is Alce Nero, one of the pioneers of organic agriculture in Italy. At each station, there will be ambassadors of the territory, bringing important demands for changes. Among these are also organic farmers of Alce Nero: Maria Desciante will take part, who has chosen the long-stemmed grain Senatore Cappelli that is more difficult to cultivate, as well as olive grower Gianfranco Ciola and Andrea Morara, who grows organic spelt for the Emmaus community in Foggia. Lucio Cavazzoni (see picture), president of Alce Nero, explains that it is time to convert much of the Italian land to organic agriculture. It is also time that farmers and cattle breeders are more recognized and valued - and with them the effort and work that contribute to change agriculture in the country.

More information (in Italian) is available here.