Italy seeks to combat rural depopulation through agriculture and policy

Efforts to combat the depopulation of Italy's internal areas are focusing on economic productivity and territorial connectivity. At the Terra Madre event, Slow Food Toscana highlighted initiatives in the Amiata and Maremma regions designed to transform landscapes into productive hubs. These include the promotion of Monte Amiata chestnut cultivation through product diversification—such as candied chestnuts—and the development of chestnut-based tourism and circular economy practices, including using chestnut husks for bioplastics.

Other regional initiatives include the ‘Adopt an Ancient Olive Tree’ project in Semproniano to support farmers and prevent grove degradation. Complementing these local efforts, architect Fernando De Santis has proposed a structural national policy to reverse the trend of abandonment in small towns. De Santis advocates for an ‘urbanism of networks,’ where small municipalities function as connected nodes within social, economic, and infrastructural systems rather than isolated entities. He calls for a permanent bicameral commission and a framework law to ensure these communities remain viable through improved services, work opportunities, and accessibility.