The food and agriculture system in Veneto had about 79,000 active farm businesses in 2009, a drop of 3.2% on 2008; Veneto also had more than 7,400 food industry businesses, an increase of 1.1% on 2008.
It is thanks to the work of these businesses that Veneto leads Italy for the number of Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) and Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) products: 31 out of the 194 held by Italy in 2009.
Veneto also holds the Italian record for wine production and exports, with almost 8 million hectolitres produced and foreign sales of more than 1 billion euro. The jewel in its crown is the Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene, one of the most famous Italian wines in the world; this year, for the first time, it has received the coveted title of Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin (DOCG), placing it at the top of the wine-quality pyramid.
Within the environmental network, farm businesses are leaning towards not increasing the amounts of fertilisers and phytosanitary products; instead priority is being given to protecting plants with integrated pest management and biological pest control and to maintaining the natural qualities of farming produce. In Veneto between 2003 and 2005, the amount of fertilisers allowed in organic farming rose by 75%, reaching 21% of the total fertilisers distributed.
There is also a major tendency to build a network in the food and agriculture industry, both among producers, with 44 farmers markets and almost 600 market places available to farm businesses, and among consumers, who have set up more than 50 farm direct marketing groups throughout Veneto, a figure that is increasing exponentially throughout Italy as well (+30% on 2008).
(Chapter 8 in figures)