At Tenuta di Paganico, an organic farm in Tuscany, the grazing of cattle and pigs coexists with sustainable forest management that preserves the land.
Today, 23 September, marks European Organic Day and, on this occasion, Italy officially unveiled the Italian European Organic Label, promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests. The label may appear on national organic products, alongside the traditional EU organic leaf certification mark.
"The introduction of the national organic label makes it possible to strengthen the role of farmers by focusing on Made in Italy Bio supply chains at a 'fair price', capable of representing the full set of organic values: environmental protection, traceability of raw materials, transparency towards citizens and social equity throughout the entire supply chain," said Maria Grazia Mammuccini, president of Federbio. "It also constitutes a distinctive element that helps consolidate trust, traceability and safety, enabling immediate recognition of foods made with organic raw materials grown exclusively in Italy, thus allowing Italian organic produce to stand out and compete at an international level."
"23 September is an important date for the entire European organic sector, and Italy's choice to mark it with the launch of a label defending Italian origin is a step in the right direction: towards transparency, protection and recognition of the work of those who produce in compliance with certification standards," said Enrico Amico, president of Demeter Italia. "This also means acknowledging the work of the many organic and biodynamic farmers who meet specific requirements on soil management and biodiversity protection."
Behind a certification, behind a label, there are many stories to tell — those of producers who believe another way is possible and who, while tending their fields and animals, also care for an entire ecosystem. One such story is that of Tenuta di Paganico, an organic farm of nearly 1,500 hectares in Tuscany, in the province of Grosseto — a concrete example of how pasture-based livestock farming and forest stewardship can coexist to protect the land for future generations. The model is featured as a European case study in the use of CAP support and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to invest in sustainable practices.
Approximately 1,100 hectares of the estate are woodland: here, Maremmana breed cattle and Cinta Senese breed pigs are raised using an extensive system. The farm has found in silvopasture a practical solution for combining forest management, grazing and wildfire prevention. Following a fire in 2017, work was carried out to restore firebreaks and clear some at-risk areas, but questions were also raised about how livestock could contribute to long-term vegetation management. Vegetation, climate, topography and water were all taken into consideration.
Maremmana cattle, which feed on both grass and shrubs, help to keep herbaceous and woody vegetation under control and reduce biomass accumulation. Breed, grazing location, timing and duration of grazing are all considered in relation to soil characteristics, not solely based on the number of animals. An existing pond of 500 m² was restored, while a new one of 200 m² was created, providing additional drinking water for livestock. Watering points, firebreaks and grazing areas have made various parts of the estate more accessible to animals. In this project, a single intervention can serve multiple functions: firebreaks can also become grazing areas; forest management can generate food resources; and strategically placed water points can make certain areas of the farm more accessible to livestock.
The farm has also taken part in projects through FAR Maremma under the European Leader initiative, to assess the environmental impact of silvopastoral meat production and to develop on-farm pig slaughter solutions to improve animal welfare throughout the entire production chain.
The farm was also the subject of a study by the University of Florence that examined the impacts of semi-extensive grazing by Maremmana cattle on a Mediterranean agroforestry system. The objectives were to identify innovative and sustainable grazing practices to preserve the balance and efficiency of the agroforestry system, and to assess the effects of different grazing intensities on soil properties, vegetation and forest structure.
Fieldwork took place between April and July 2021 at the farm, involving four areas characterised by different grazing intensities: an ungrazed zone and three areas with different stocking density levels. Results showed that high grazing intensity did not affect organic carbon and nitrogen content or the water permeability of the soil, but did have a negative impact on soil health and forest structure. By contrast, low stocking density and rotational grazing promoted soil biological quality, vegetation diversity and natural regeneration capacity. Grazing intensity did not affect the dominant tree layer, but did influence the composition and development of the understorey and regeneration layers.
The study thus highlighted how adaptive grazing management can balance productivity and ecological integrity in Mediterranean agroforestry systems, offering insights for integrating livestock management with sustainable forestry practices.
