Mario Pappagallo writing on the Corriere Della Sera.it in the article ‘Un Navigatore per trovare i prodotti tipici’ (a navigator to find typical products) describes how a research project between regional authorities, universities and a foundation for the italian agroindustry has resulted in a project to promote the typcial products of the italian mountainous regions.

The project was set up to identify agriculture and food products which are not protected by the DOC system. A database of 4500 products has been created which will be accompanied by a WebGIS application which will establish a dynamic map indicating every single product of the region.

One of the technical experts of the project – Giacomo Elias said that ‘the commercial marketing of the typical products of the mountain on its own will not ensure the continuity and economic viability of their production and distribution. One must incentivize the operators to continue with their work and improve it, notwithstanding that the initial modest productivity, difficult logistics and low economic returns.’

One of the tangible results of the project is a portal – Fimont - for the products mapped.

Comments: Portal is not very user friendly but still an interesting project which could be adapted to Malta and Gozo