THE PROJECT

"Countryside at school - CAP classes in the Roman schools - Actions targeting schools" is a specific measure designed to present the advantages of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) reform, carried out by ARM - Azienda Romana Mercati in co-operation with the European Commission - Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, involving 33 schools and over 3,600 students.

The project measures included:

- An information-invitation addressed to the primary and secondary schools of the Roman territory;

- A press conference for the project launch that took place in Rome on Saturday 11th October 2008 at the Agricultural Institute "G. Garibaldi";

- Undertaking 2 cycles of class lessons: the first cycle took place from 13th October to 8th November 2008; the second cycle took place from 23rd February to 20th March 2009.

During the lessons' planning, a selection of the CAP topics was carried out, identifying 12 major issues that have been described thoroughly and converted to images.

The issues of the first cycle were:

  • The CAP reform: sustainable development, and competitivity of the agricultural system
  • Role of farmers in regard to food, nutrition, environment, economic as well as social well-being
  • Responsible and sustainable agriculture meeting citizens and societal expectations
  • CAP as means to enhance rural development, growth and employment in rural areas
  • Environment, climate change, agriculture, and biomass: the future way of producing clean energy offering new opportunities to farmers
  • Animal welfare, plant, animal and human health within the reformed CAP

The issues of the second cycle were:

  • The link between Agriculture and Health
  • Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables: advantages of a sane and healthy nutrition
  • The European action to support quality products (Protected Designation of Origin - PDO, Protected Geographical Indication - PGI, Traditional Speciality Guaranteed - TSG)
  • Organic food: meaning and importance
  • Labelling: the need for a carefull reading
  • Our national quality products: oil, fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese

- Guided visits in farms of the Rome province: from 10th November 2008 to 29th January 2009, students have visited the farm located within the Agricultural Institute "G. Garibaldi" in Rome;

- Designing and printing of an informative brochure (given to all teachers) and a calendar (given to all students) for the first cycle of class lessons;

- Designing and printing of a didactic game used during the second cycle of class lessons;

- The organisation of a Competition, where 28 schools and 77 classes participated, to award the best and most original works related to the issues dealt with in class, such as food processing, food safety, the environment and biodiversity;

- Designing and printing of a CD in three languages (Italian, English and Romanian) summarising the specific measures and the methodology applied, addressed to the participating schools;

- The organisation of a final Conference that took place on the 8th May 2009 in the Villa Celimontana, Rome, involving 600 students from the schools participating to the project. A great party for all students and teachers that have taken part to the initiative with great enthusiasm, during which all winning classes have been awarded, all works have been displayed and all students have taken part to didactic games.