BIO MULTIFUNCTIONALITY NETWORK.

Why We Establish the Bio Multifunctionality Network

The BioDistrict was established by over 50 organic farms in the province of Cagliari and South Sardinia and also associates agricultural organizations, environmental and consumer associations (Legambiente and Slow Food), cultural and tourism cooperatives, and green building operators. The purpose is twofold: to spread organic farming and consumption of organic products and at the same time to promote and develop sustainable economic activities in all productive sectors. Through the various initiatives planned in this project, we try to support agricultural farms in converting to organic and on the other hand strengthen the consumption of organic products in our Region and particularly in the BioDistrict area (Cagliari Metropolitan area and the former province of Cagliari including Sulcis and Iglesiente, Marmilla etc). Another focus present in the BioDistrict initiatives is to encourage more sustainable tourism and extend the tourist season, so as to bring more consumers to take advantage of restaurant offerings with menus or at least with some products from organic farming. The establishment of the BIO Multifunctionality Network (Direct Sales, Agritourism and Educational and Social Farms) is a step in this direction, which continues in organizing events (BioFestival) and organizing tourist packages with the possibility of visiting/collaborating in some activities at the organic farms that are members of the BioDistrict. The Network is promoted, at no cost to members, by the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago which also organizes experiential and ecological tourism routes. The BioDistrict through its website (under development, online by the end of January) and in all information actions will promote the Network. On the side of expanding the organic production base, actions are planned towards agricultural farms both those already organic and those that want to convert their production to organic. For these purposes, the BioDistrict builds Networks between farms that may have interest in common actions: the purpose of this Network, in addition to promoting member farms, is also to facilitate the exchange of products and services to those who work to increase organic production and/or consumption in the Region. The Network does not have a commercial function; the LAORE Sardinia Agency collaborates with us and has already established the Agritourism Registry and the Educational and Social Farms Registry.

Multifunctionality Network Charter of Intent

Purpose of the document
To define structure, characteristics and methods of joining the Bio agritourism, direct sales and educational and social farms Network.

Definition and Organization of the Network.
The Bio agritourism, direct sales and educational and social farms Network is promoted by the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago with the purpose of promoting organic farming and eco-sustainable activities in the territory in close relationship with consumers and to enhance short supply chain processes. The Bio agritourism, direct sales and educational and social farms Network makes use of the collaboration of the Regional Agency LAORE Sardinia. The Network is organized informally, and is composed of farms that express in writing, to the Board of Directors of the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago, the desire to be part of it and has a Coordinator appointed by the Board of Directors of the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago. The Coordinator has merely representative tasks of the Network externally. The position of Coordinator is unpaid and can be revoked by the Board of Directors of the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago, at its unquestionable judgment, should it deem it necessary.

The members
Organic farms, even those converting to organic farming, in the territory of the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago, as identified in the map attached to this document, that exercise direct sales or agritourism and educational or social farm activities can join the Bio agritourism, direct sales and educational and social farms Network.

Membership requirements.
Farms interested in joining the Bio agritourism, direct sales and educational and social farms Network send the request to the Board of Directors by signing this Charter of Intent. For farms that exercise direct sales activity, the methods and place of exercising the same activity must be specified and the related SUAP communication must be attached. For agritourism farms and for educational or social farms, self-certification of registration in the appropriate Regional Registries must be produced and it is mandatory to provide information about food service proposals with raw materials from organic farming. In particular: it must be indicated in the menu, or the ingredients and/or raw materials certified from organic farming must be indicated in each day’s menu.
The Board of Directors of the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago may define, after consultation with the farms adhering to the Network, additional membership requirements following new needs that may arise.

Operating costs
No operating costs are expected for the first two years of activity (2025 and 2026) to be borne by Network members as the Network operating expenses are supported by the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago

Internal audit

The Regional Agency LAORE Sardinia, as a public partner that manages the Agritourism and Educational and Social Farms Registries, performs the function of verifying the maintenance of requirements by farms adhering to the Bio agritourism, direct sales and educational and social farms Network

Promotion, enhancement and services.
The Bio agritourism, direct sales and educational and social farms Network is promoted by the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago in all its activities that are related to the object of interest of the Network. In particular, the website of the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago
includes a specific dedicated web page and the following sections:
1. Direct sales
2. Agritourism
3. Educational and/or social farms.
For each farm, a description, photos and the products and services offered are included. All farms adhering to the Bio agritourism, direct sales and educational and social farms Network of the BioDistrict South Sardinia and Sulcis Archipelago, if they have a company website, dedicate space to the Bio agritourism, direct sales and educational and social farms Network. The BioDistrict facilitates the exchange of organic products among Network members in order to make the offer of organic products more complete and attractive for consumers