The city is preparing for the trial of Food Income: 2 million euros to create a network of activities to support the poor. Councilor Pennino: “Unique opportunity for social issues”
PALERMO – The upcoming event has been announced by the Municipality activation of food incomea project promoted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies with the aim of achieving a double mission: on the one hand waste reduction and, on the other hand, theconcrete assistance to people in poverty.
Food income not only in Palermo
The measure in question, which will currently be subjected to a first test phase – not only in Palermo but also in the Municipalities of Genoa, Florence and Naples – will be able to count on a fund for experimentation which, for the current year, amounts to over 2 million euros. Sums allocated by the State with the Budget Law approved in December 2022 and relating to the three-year period 2023-2025.
Donation and distribution of food products
Care should be taken when using the word “income”, given the meaning commonly attributed to this term. This is not a circuit based on the provision of money, but rather on the donation and distribution of food products and, in particular, of the so-called surpluses, clearly in cases where the quality, hygiene and safety of the goods is not compromised : we go from unsold food suppliesto the products close to their expiry dateup to goods that cannot be marketed due to defective packaging.
Donation to families and poor people
As for the beneficiaries, the donation of food will be made to families and poor people, already in the care of the social services of the Palermo area. Furthermore, the recipients may be the people identified and reported by the participating associations, as well as those who, finding themselves in a clear state of need, request it.
The amounts from the experimentation fund will be used as reimbursement for the subjects who operate in the food sector and who will take part in the initiative, carrying out the activities necessary for the implementation of the measure: the procurement and transport of the products, their packaging and finally delivery.
Concreteness and ability to satisfy multiple needs are the values that find expression in this project, according to what emerges from the words of thecouncilor for social activities of the Municipality of Palermo, Rosi Penninowho states: “This is a measure that really aims to produce something concrete in the context of assistance to those disadvantaged social groups, providing them with the basic necessities fundamental to their sustenance. The double value of cutting waste and, at the same time, sending food to those who need it most represents a unique opportunity for the virtuous use of funds in the social sector.”
Regarding the start of the experimentation, councilor Pennino declares: “The deadline for the submission of applications by the parties interested in the project has been extended to May 6th. After an evaluation phase of the applications received, the planning process will be able to begin which will guarantee the measurement of food income.”
“The choice made on Palermo – adds Pennino – certainly had a very positive impact on all the parties involved. For operators in the food sector and third sector bodies, there is the possibility of reducing waste, and consequently losses, on unsold food. Therefore, we expect a positive response in terms of participation and adherence to the Ministry’s project.”
Food income against poverty
Food income, therefore, can be seen as an important reaction to poverty phenomenon which affects the territory, but (with the prospect of being put into a system) can impact on problems that extend across the entire national territory. On the poverty front, the numbers concerning our country are anything but encouraging. According to the report published by the ActionAid organisation, in Italy 6 million people are in conditions of food poverty, 600 thousand of whom are in Sicily.
An equally negative overview emerges on the other issue that concerns food income, that of the fight against the squandering of resources. In Sicily, between the waste that occurs in family contexts and that which occurs in economic activities, it is estimated that around 400 thousand tons of food are lost every year.
