CSR Calls - OCM - PIF and GAL - for the treatment and reuse of wastewater

In this particular period, various calls for the agricultural, agritourism, and agri-food sectors are being activated and represent a great opportunity, especially for agricultural enterprises, which can thus access contributions in various forms, such as grants that can range from 40% to 70% in capital account. Interested companies must act promptly, as the calls usually have a limited time window depending on the regions and the funds available. In the latest calls in various regions, technologies for the reuse of wastewater have been included, a trend that is on the rise especially after the severe drought that caused a serious water crisis; water, in fact, along with land, is the primary limiting factor for the development of companies. Sicily, Puglia, Basilicata, Campania, Molise, and part of Abruzzo can simultaneously benefit from the advantages of the calls and the Bonus Sud, which would allow a company to combine the grant with the tax credit from the Bonus Sud, reaching a total contribution of 80%.

Calls 2023 - 2024 for the reuse of wastewater.

In the following paragraphs, we delve into the discussion on:

• PSR calls (Rural Development Programs) currently CSR (Complement for Rural Development);
• OCM calls (Common Market Organization);
• PIF calls (Integrated Supply Chain Programs);
• GAL calls (Local Action Groups).

These calls represent fundamental financial instruments that institutions have made available to promote the treatment, processing, and proper reuse of wastewater. Companies, public entities, and research organizations can thus carry out their projects aimed at sustainably managing water resources and safeguarding the surrounding environment.

The importance of wastewater treatment and reuse

It is essential to understand that water is a closed circuit, and therefore the environment will always return the water we release into nature. Consequently, if we release polluted water into nature, it will eventually come back to us. The pollutants we discharge can end up in the sea where we fish for the fish we eat or in the aquifers where we cultivate the products that end up on our tables. Moreover, water is an extremely precious resource and should not be wasted. For this reason, it is crucial to treat and purify wastewater for other uses in agriculture, industry, or any other sector. Treated wastewater can, for example, be used for irrigating fields, green spaces, or for recreational or sports activities. Alternatively, in the civil sector, it can be used for street washing, as fire-fighting water, for heating or cooling systems, or for washing.

CSR Calls ex PSR

The CSR (Complement for Rural Development); is the community programming tool based on one of the SIE funds, the FEASR (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) and allows Italian regions to make investments and interventions in the regional agricultural-forestry sector, thus enhancing the development of rural areas. The programming primarily targets:

• innovation and research;
• safeguarding the climate and the environment;
• preventing hydrogeological risk;
• monitoring territories;
• maintaining and improving biodiversity;
• the inner and more disadvantaged areas;
• a new mountain policy aimed at enhancing the territory.

Currently, several CSR calls are open for various regions such as Lazio, Piemonte, Veneto, and Calabria, just to name a few, which among their various objectives aim to properly treat and reuse wastewater. The PSR has a variable duration of years and is articulated into Priorities and Focus areas, i.e., specific objectives to be pursued by adopting certain measures. The objectives must be relevant to the actual needs of each territory and aim to develop agriculture and other economic sectors present in rural areas. The following entities can access CSR funding:

• farmers;
• operators in the agri-food and forestry system;
• entrepreneurs operating in rural areas either individually or collectively;
• public entities and institutions;
• providers of training, consulting, and assistance services to businesses;
• local partnerships.

OCM Calls

The OCM (Common Market Organization) is a measure that grants funding and contributions to wine producers and operates in Italy with annual calls issued by the Ministry of Agricultural Policies and by each Region or Autonomous Province, with grants ranging from 40% to 80%. The OCM calls are reserved for wine companies, except for simple bottlers or wine traders. The objective is to support wine producers and provide them with contributions to improve the wine production itself with new technological tools and promote their activities. A large amount of water is needed for wine production, and OCM calls allow financing for technologies to treat wastewater that can be reused in a smart and virtuous way. Application deadlines vary from region to region, but great care must be taken not to make mistakes during the processing of the application. Expenses must be consistent with the actual size of the company, and the documentation, to be submitted both in digital and paper format, must be sent 12 hours before the deadline.

PIF Calls

The PIF calls (Integrated Supply Chain Projects) bring together actors in the agri-food and forestry supply chain to address and resolve all issues related to the supply chain and to improve market relations. The PIF initiates a series of projects that include:

• business investments;
• promotion;
• technological innovation;
• diversification of agricultural activities. Various entities involved in the production supply chain can participate, such as:
• forestry and agricultural companies;
• primary and secondary processing companies;
• companies engaged in marketing;
• public entities.

The supply chains interested in the PIF calls are all those in the agricultural, agri-food, and forestry sectors. To submit a funding request, participants must sign a specific “Supply Chain Agreement,” a true contract signed between the parties that gives a significant boost to the development and integration of local supply chains. To participate, one must fill out the online application form by accessing the system provided by their Municipality through authentication with a specific digital certificate. The applicant must proceed with the upload and simultaneous submission of the application and affix the digital signature of the legal representative or the delegated person with signing powers. In this project, which involves all actors operating in the agri-food and forestry supply chain, the treatment of wastewater, which can be used in many related activities, such as irrigation of fields and crops, is of great importance.

GAL Calls

A GAL (Local Action Group) is a tool promoted by the European Union aimed at developing and implementing intervention plans and programs aimed at the socio-economic improvement of rural communities. GALs are groupings of public and private partners that represent the organizations of economic operators present in the territory and the rural populations. The main objective of GALs is to draft and implement a strategy aimed at participatory local development, supported by one or more European funds, and in this sense, the reference European fund is the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (FEASR). Once again, the treatment of wastewater becomes a precious tool for irrigation or for other rural or agricultural activities. To participate in the GAL, one must submit the appropriate application on the reference platform of their region, using their personal credentials, as a natural person, even if they intend to operate as the owner/legal representative of a company or entity. The available funds vary from region to region and are intended to co-finance, as a grant, investments aimed at promoting the recovery and relaunch of activities.

Bonus SUD - what it is and how it works.

For 2023, the Bonus Sud Investments has been confirmed, and it is a tax credit reserved for research and development activities in the areas of the Mezzogiorno. This measure offers a series of financial incentives to companies and start-ups in the form of tax credits to be used for investments in technological innovation, and it is possible to benefit from the incentive until December 31, 2023. The Bonus Sud is reserved for those companies that purchase new instrumental goods for structures located in Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, and Sicily. The compensation is provided in the form of compensation in F24 to purchase machinery, equipment, and other tools intended for their structures. The objective is to encourage productive investments in the regions of Southern Italy, but the measure has also been extended to areas affected by earthquakes in Central Italy, in ZLS (Simplified Logistics Zones) and ZES (Special Economic Zones). Every company and start-up, regardless of its size, can apply to access the bonus.

To benefit from the Bonus, the purchased goods must have the following characteristics:

• they must be new and never used before;
• they must meet the criterion of instrumentality;
• they must be purchased to expand an existing facility or to create a new one.

Wastewater calls - who is entitled?

The entities that can access the calls that provide benefits and funding for the treatment and processing of wastewater may vary depending on the cases. Generally, they are entities operating in the agricultural, agritourism, and agri-industrial sectors where there is a significant use of water, and therefore it is particularly advantageous to tap into funding specifically allocated for a more prudent and sustainable reuse of wastewater, to be used for other activities such as washing, irrigation, or for heating or cooling systems. In any case, it is advisable to check the websites of one’s region to discover if their company meets the requirements to access the call. For a broader overview, you can consult the following paragraphs on the currently open calls divided by region. We will continuously update the article as new calls are launched, so frequently check the various updates.

links to open calls:

Let’s now take a look at the currently available calls that provide benefits and incentives for the treatment and purification of wastewater.

Piemonte - CSR 2023-2027. Irrigation Investments (SRD02 Action C).

https://bandi.regione.piemonte.it/contributi-finanziamenti/csr-2023-2027-investimenti-irrigui-srd02-azione-c  The call related to the SRD02 intervention guarantees economic support for all those financing aimed at a virtuous and prudent use of water resources and for business investments to improve, renew, and restore irrigation systems that ensure savings in the use of water resources and promote the storage and reuse of seasonal or treated water. In this way, a sufficient quantity of water for emergency irrigation is guaranteed when there is little water availability.

Marche - Funding Calls - Agriculture Rural Development and Fishing.

Fighting water waste and fully enhancing irrigation infrastructures: these are the objectives of the new call promoted by the Agriculture and Rural Development Service, which will allow interested parties (collective systems managed by the Marche Land Reclamation Consortium) to submit a contribution request starting from July 31 (deadline October 10). Read the full news https://www.regione.marche.it/News-ed-Eventi/Post/97508/La-Regione-Marche-potenzia-le-reti-irrigue-per-la-lotta-allo-spreco-idrico The call promoted by the Agriculture Service and Rural Development has the main objective of containing water waste and enhancing irrigation infrastructures. Interested parties, namely the collective systems managed by the Marche Land Reclamation Consortium, can submit a contribution request starting from July 31 with a deadline of October 10. For this call, the Regional Administration has allocated 20 million euros with two purposes:

• to promote the growth and investment of Marche agricultural enterprises;
• to strengthen and improve the water system in general using increasingly advanced and sophisticated machinery and systems.

This call is aimed at reducing water consumption to address the recent drought that alternates with periods of heavy rainfall. https://www.regione.marche.it/Regione-Utile/Agricoltura-Sviluppo-Rurale-e-Pesca/Bandi-di-finanziamento/id_8293/6944  Marche OCM Wine 2023-2024. https://www.regione.marche.it/Regione-Utile/Agricoltura-Sviluppo-Rurale-e-Pesca/OCM/OCM-Vitivinicolo

Lombardia OCM Wine 2023-2024.

As part of the National Support Plan for the wine sector, regarding the 2023-24 campaign, the OCM Wine call opened by the Lombardy Region provides support for material and/or immaterial investments in wine treatment plants, wine infrastructures, and structures or tools for wine marketing. The call closes at the end of July, and the eligible expenditure cannot be less than 5,000 euros or exceed 200,000 euros. The grant amount is equal to:

• 40% of the eligible expenditure actually incurred, excluding VAT, for micro, small, and medium enterprises. The grant amount can therefore range from a minimum of 2,000 euros to a maximum of 80,000 euros;
• 20% for intermediate enterprises, i.e., those with fewer than 770 employees and an annual turnover of less than 200 million euros.

The grant amount can therefore range from 1,000 to 40,000 euros. The call opened by the Lombardy Region is set to close at the end of July for wine companies. The eligible expenditure for making material and immaterial investments cannot be less than €5,000.00 and cannot exceed €200,000.00. The grant amount is equal to: - 40% of the eligible expenditure actually incurred, excluding VAT, for micro, small, and medium enterprises; thus, the grant amount can range from €2,000.00 to €80,000.00; - 20% for enterprises classified as intermediate (with fewer than 770 employees and an annual turnover of less than 200 million euros); thus, the grant amount can range from €1,000.00 to €40,000.00. Here is the link: https://www.regione.lombardia.it/wps/portal/istituzionale/HP/DettaglioServizio/servizi-e-informazioni/Imprese/Imprese-agricole/organizzazioni-comuni-di-mercato-ocm/ocm-vitivinicolo/01misura-investimenti-campagna-2023-2024/01misura-investimenti-campagna-2023-2024

PSP 2023-2027: 820 million to the PSR Sardinia

Thanks to the new allocation of FEASR funds for the 2023-2027 five-year period, 820 million euros will be allocated to the PSR Sardinia after the negotiations held in the State-Regions Conference. The funding made available for the Sardinia region takes into account the FEASR share and co-financing from the State and the Region. Compared to the period 2014-2020, it is necessary to consider the reduction at the European level of the FEASR, so due to the two-year delay, the programming itself has a duration of only 5 years and no longer 6.  https://sardegnapsr.it/notizia/feasr-820-milioni-al-psr-sardegna-per-il-quinquennio-2023-2027/