Humus

Stakeholders

Humus network is composed by:

• “La Terra e il cielo” cooperative (organic pasta maker)
• “El Tamiso” cooperative (organic vegetable maker)
• “Con.pro.bio Lucano” consortium (organic cereal producer group)
• “Rete utile buono e bio” cooperative (social reintegration by organic agriculture)
• “Puglia Natura” consortium (technical support and organic producer group)
• “Biolitalia” association (promoting organic products )
• “Rete bio “cooperative (network on organic farms)
• “Agricoltura biologica Calabria-ABC” (agriculture training centre )
• “Carpem naturam “ (producer organization ) 
• University of Bologna – Consumption and Communication Department.

Objectives

The HUMUS project is a network of 10 Italian private firms (co-operatives, SMEs) established in Bologna the 4th May 2016 to promote organic, sustainable and ethics agriculture practices based on 4 IFOAM principles:

1. Principle of Health: Healthy soil, plants, animals, humans = a healthy planet;

2. Principle of Ecology: Emulating and sustaining natural systems;

3. Principle of Fairness: Equity, respect and justice for all living things;

4. Principle of Care: For the generations to come.

Furthermore, other specific Humus’ principles are:

• Sustainable development;

• Equity of price and social and economic relations;

• Social and territorial responsibility;

• Product quality and food taste.

Humus main objectives are the definition of organic production methods, food transformation, responsible consumption promotion and all services linked to the agriculture. In addition, Humus aims at promoting the Italian organic identity and culture at international level. More specifically, Humus main objectives are:

• Develop innovative systems for organic production and processing;

• Improve organic certification through a multi-actor approach; involving farmers, supply chain actors and consumers;

• Develop a new common standard (code of practice and a manual);

• Closely co-operate with the private and public research institute to promote research and innovation.

• Organize technical training courses to enhance farmers’ / processors’ know-how and practices.

• Increase consumer knowledge, by providing them transparent and reliable information about organic supply chain;

• lay the foundations for a long-term collaboration with other network and initiatives at national and European level.

Humus aims also at constantly establishing a community approach and participation: putting together systemic and specific features, watching at agriculture and territory as keys for sustainability. The constant improvement approach: full price transparency, full cost accountability, self-and participated assessment, community audit.