A Participatory Analysis of the Control and Certification System In

sustainability Article A Participatory Analysis of the Control and Certification System in the Italian Organic Rice Value Chain Giovanni Dara Guccione 1 , Elena Pagliarino 2 , Ilaria Borri 1, Alessandra Vaccaro 1 and Patrizia Borsotto 1,* 1 CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00198 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (G.D.G.); [email protected] (I.B.); [email protected] (A.V.) 2 CNR-IRCRES National Research Council, Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth, 10024 Moncalieri, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-347-3601750 Abstract: Italy is the leading European rice producer. The transition to organic farming of rice farms could represent a solution for environmental protection, as well as for their economic sustainability, consumer safety, and as a measure of climate mitigation. However, there are currently several weaknesses in the control and certification system. The objective of the current study was to propose advice for improving the control and certification scheme in the organic rice sector. The goal was achieved by adopting a qualitative methodology based on participant observation at stakeholder meetings and community-led workshops, and information collected in focus groups and deep interviews with relevant local actors. The findings show that there are some solutions to mitigate the weakness of the Italian certification scheme. The study also contributes to improving the Italian organic rice sector by highlighting that a revision of procedures and sanctions alone is not enough, Citation: Dara Guccione, G.; Pagliarino, E.; Borri, I.; Vaccaro, A.; and that an ethical and cultural change is also needed along the whole value chain. Borsotto, P. A Participatory Analysis of the Control and Certification Keywords: qualitative research; regulations; ethical issues; sustainable production System in the Italian Organic Rice Value Chain. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2001. https://doi.org/10.3390/su 13042001 1. Introduction Certified organic products are produced, stored, processed, handled, and marketed in Academic Editors: Valeria Borsellino accordance with precise technical specifications (standards), which in the European Union and Emanuele Schimmenti (EU) are established by EU Reg. 889/2008 and certified by a certifying body (CB). The latter is responsible for verifying that the operator acts in compliance with organic rules, Received: 6 December 2020 and if verified, the product can be labelled as organic. This label differs depending on the Accepted: 9 February 2021 standard (for example, for products from the EU it is set in Annex XI of Reg. 889/2008) Published: 12 February 2021 and it can be taken as an assurance that the elements constituting an “organic” product have been met [1]. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral In the EU, every country appoints a “competent authority” who is ultimately respon- with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- sible for making sure that EU organics rules are followed. This competent authority can iations. delegate the certification of the products to (i) one or more private certifying bodies, (ii) one or more public control authorities, or (iii) a mixed system with both private certifying bodies and public control authorities [2]. In Italy, for example, the competent authority is the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MiPAAF) and it delegates 20 private certifying bodies, 18 in the whole Italian territory and two specific to the autonomous Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. province of Bolzano [3]. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Beyond the specific mechanisms of the control system, the organic standards, legisla- This article is an open access article tion, and certification systems were developed to ensure the quality of organic produce. distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons One of the main challenges facing organic agriculture is establishing and maintaining Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// credibility of the system and professionalism of the stakeholders (SHs), particularly farm- creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ ers and certifying bodies. Correcting the inadequacies in the regulatory framework and 4.0/). Sustainability 2021, 13, 2001. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042001 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 19 framework and ensuring stringency of the control system for global consumers while allowing for locally appropriate adaptations are the major issues at stake in this respect Sustainability 2021, 13, 2001 2 of 19 [4]. The Italian organic rice sector offers an excellent case to reflect on these aspects and on theensuring strategies stringency to maintain of the control and strengthen system for global the consumerseffectiveness while of allowing organic for certification. locally appropriate adaptations are the major issues at stake in this respect [4]. 1.1. The ItalianThe Italian Organic organic Rice rice Sector sector within offers anthe excellent World Context case to reflect on these aspects and on the strategies to maintain and strengthen the effectiveness of organic certification. Rice was the first cereal produced worldwide for human consumption, and is second after1.1. The corn Italian for Organic quantity Rice of Sector production. within the World In the Context world there are more than 140,000 varieties of riceRice and was many the first typologies cereal produced of cultivation worldwide for [5] human. Rice consumption, is produced and inis many second areas with differentafter weather corn for quantity conditions of production., from the In therainiest world thereareas are inmore the world than 140,000 to the varieties driestof deserts [6]. Accordingrice and to many the typologiesResearch of Institute cultivation of [ 5Organi]. Rice isc produced Agriculture in many (FiBL) areas [7] with, in different 2018 the world weather conditions, from the rainiest areas in the world to the driest deserts [6]. According land toarea the Researchdedicated Institute to organic of Organic rice Agriculture production (FiBL) was [7 ],about in 2018 566 the,000 world hectares land area and repre- senteddedicated about 0.35% to organic of the rice total production world was land about area 566,000 for rice hectares production and represented (160 million about hectares). Most 0.35%of the of organic the total rice world agricultural land area for area rice productionis in Asia (160(87%) million and hectares).332,000 Mosthectares of the (60% of the total organic rice rice agricultural area) are area in isChi in Asiana (Figure (87%) and 1). 332,000 Thailand hectares with (60% 67 of,000 the totalhectares organic (in the past rice area) are in China (Figure1). Thailand with 67,000 hectares (in the past 10 years the 10 years the organic rice area has risen from 17,000 to the current figure), Indonesia with organic rice area has risen from 17,000 to the current figure), Indonesia with 54,000 hectares, 54,000and hectares Pakistan, and with Pakistan 31,000 hectares with are 31 the,000 main hectares producers are ofthe organic main rice;producers Italy, with of less organic rice; Italy, thanwith 20,000 less hectares,than 20 is,000 the hectares, top non-Asian is the country. top non-Asian country. Figure 1.Figure World 1. Worldorganic organic rice ricearea area in 2018: in 2018: geographical geographical distribution, distribution, our our elaboration elaboration on FiBL o datan FiBL [7]. data [7]. Italy is also the leading European producer, followed by France, Romania, Greece, and ItalySpain is (Figure also2 ).the In theleading last five European years, as shown producer, in Figure followed2, the rice landby France, area has increasedRomania, Greece , and Spainrapidly (Figure (EU: +52%) 2). withIn the countries last five that haveyears, showed as shown a considerable in Figure growth 2, the (France: rice +95%land area has increasedand Italy: rapidly +64%), (EU: following +52%) the with positive countries trend that that has characterized have showed the European a considerable organic growth (France:sector +95% [8]. This and increase Italy: is+64%), matching following the increased the Europeanpositive consumertrend that demand has characterized for high the quality food production that respects the environment, complies with animal welfare, European organic sector [8]. This increase is matching the increased European consumer and supports the development of rural areas [9]. Moreover, the consumption of rice has demandincreased for high as consumers’ quality dietsfood haveproduction diversified that from respects traditional the starchy environment, food components complies with animalsuch we aslfare bread,, and pasta, supports and potatoes the [10 development]. of rural areas [9]. Moreover, the con- sumptionOrganic of rice rice has land increased area has experiencedas consumers’ a twofold diets increase have indiversified Italy during from the last traditional starch10yyears, food growingcomponents faster thansuch the as rest bread, of all organicpasta, and crops potatoes (Figure3). [10]. Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 19 Sustainability 2021, 13, 2001 3 of 19 Figure 2. European organic rice land area: main countries—years 2014–2019, hectares, our elaboration of EUROSTAT data [11]. Figure 2. EuropeanOrganic organic rice land rice area land has area: experienced main countries—years a twofold increase 2014–2019, in

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