In the Bergamo and Crema lowlands—an area still deeply rooted in rural and agricultural traditions—challenges emerge due to administrative fragmentation and lack of territorial coordination. Small municipalities often struggle to plan and implement effective ecological interventions. While sustainable and organic farming practices do exist, they are isolated, unstructured, and disconnected from local supply chains. There is no stable network among local actors to guide the ecological transition, and local communities are not sufficiently involved in biodiversity conservation. Moreover, employment opportunities for vulnerable groups in rural contexts remain limited. A coordinated body is needed to enhance existing initiatives and promote shared, long-term governance.

The project aims to integrate agroecology into the region’s social and economic fabric by actively involving farmers in climate-resilient, sustainable practices. Specific goals include:

• counteracting the abandonment of agricultural land

• enhancing the value of local products

• promoting agricultural multifunctionality

• supporting social farming and inclusive employment

• increasing job opportunities for vulnerable groups

The strategy combines interventions in both natural and social capital, with the ambition of building more aware, active communities that adopt sustainable lifestyles. The initiative is grounded in a solid and complementary local partnership, with the goal of strengthening existing networks and reinforcing the link between nature, culture, and community well-being. Biodiversity becomes a central goal, to be achieved through a participatory and inclusive approach.

Etifor contributes to the project by designing a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme to diversify farmers’ income and reduce the environmental impact of the local agri-food supply chain. This mechanism rewards the environmental benefits generated by farmers—such as carbon sequestration, improved water quality, and biodiversity conservation—by creating markets in which agri-food companies (and others) financially support local producers committed to sustainable practices.

The planned activities include:

• analysis of existing PES models

• design of a PES scheme based on insetting principles

• mapping local supply chains and their environmental impacts

• identification of agroecological practices with positive effects on water, carbon, and biodiversity

• engagement of interested companies

• communication, training, and facilitation activities

• stakeholder meetings with potential buyers

• support in formalizing PES contracts

Through this work, Etifor helps bridge the gap between agriculture and the marketplace, promoting a nature-based economy capable of regenerating the land and creating shared value.