Factsheet: Regional rural development plans

Rural Development in Italy is the overall responsibility of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry policies (MIPAAF). The National Strategy Plan (NSP) for Italy provides the overall policy framework for rural development in the country. Each of the 21 Italian administrative regions (19 regions and 2 autonomous provinces) has developed an individual Rural Development Programme for the period 2007 - 2013 which defines the policy strategy for the territory – in accordance to the NSP – and indicate the measures chosen to address the specific needs of the rural areas, including the use of biomass for energy purposes. This plan includes measures for rural development and financial support for bioenergy, in particular grants for biomass to energy chains, energy crops growth, forestry management, installation of biomass to energy conversion systems at agricultural and forestry level and small scale plants, innovation of agro-forestry sector to increase competitiveness and sustainability, including specific support for bioenergy chains. The RDP is being issued at regional level for the period 2014-2020, in agreement with CAP and NSP.