Name of Implementing Organization:
Tourism board of Valsugana
Type of Implementing Organization:
Private company, private entrepreneurs, municipalities
Country:
Italy
Region:
Province of Trento
Municipality:
Valleys of Valsugana, Lagorai and Tesino
Year of implementation:
2015 - onwards
Target Group:

Young farmers

Funding:

Private

Adotta una mucca
Summary:

Adopt a cow is a funny project born in Valsugana and Lagorai to let you know the beautiful nature of these mountains, to teach you how cheese is made following faithfully old recipes and to show you what it means to live in an alpine hut and watch over cows on mountain pastures.

Through this initiative young farmers and their families (57 associated entrepreneurs) developed with the aid of the tourism board a sustainable and innovative project in order to promote their production and in order to boost tourism in their neighborhood.

Adopt a cow is targeted for incoming or distant tourists, they can “adopt” a cow by paying a flat sum of 65 € per year. Out of these 65 €: 50€ permit the “adopter” to have diary products, while 15 € are dedicated for charities initiatives.

During summer months the “owners” of the cows come to the alpine huts to pick products up. Since people have to come to the valley not only the agro-farm sector benefits from this but also  tourism. Tourists come from all over Italy and sometimes from other European countries.

To point out some figures in 2020 more than 2.500 cows have been adopted, this turned out in 125,000 € for the farmers and 25,000 € for charity projects.

At the moment the project is growing and will encompass many other farmers, this initiative has strong bonds to other public funds such those for Regional Development and EAFDR. Through these measures young farmers can start their idea of sustainable activity and net to other initiative (such as that of Adopt a cow).

Strengths

-To help a typical economic activity (Alpine farmers).

-To improve sustainable tourism in mountain areas.

-To help specific social projects/associations.

- To boost local activities and preveserve know-how.

- Clear focus on fragile area, depopulation, environment potentials by securing farmers’ income.

- Holistic approach.

- Part of the project entails also a social objective (charity funding).