Agriculture is social: employment & environmental strategies lead to the birth of a market oriented

8 municipalities of "Bassa Reggiana" (Emilia-Romagna) and the Local Health Unit created a recreational place for people with difficulties in working and finding a job. This space grew until it became the market oriented social cooperative “il Bettolino”. Transformation was achieved thanks to the agreement between municipalities and the inter-communal landfill of Novellara. The latter starting from the disposal of waste, generated gas that - if conveyed into engines – can produce electricity and heat. Greenhouses were built to disperse electricity and heat. Subsequently, the idea of producing basil has risen, as this plant requires many light and high temperatures. Therefore, the initial problem faced by the local administrations concerned social and labor integration of disadvantaged citizens; bedsides there was a need to efficiently manage the inter-municipal landfill through the re-use of the produced energy and heat. The greenhouses are heated through the recovery of the biogas deriving from the decomposition of the waste conveyed to the large engines that produce alternative renewable energy. This complex procedure lowers diesel consumption to a minimum level and ensures a reduction of the environmental impact. It can be stated that the public initiative generated an enterprise that maintains its social purpose and contributes to the environment sustainability. Actors: public bodies, private companies, retail trade. Beneficiaries: disadvantaged people, citizens