The Councilor for Agri-food Policies, Liana Cannata, illustrated the Administration’s strategy on agrobiodiversity and the enhancement of villages. The Sole Project Manager presented the methodological framework and the progress of the activities.
On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the session of the VI Council Commission dedicated to the INSPIRE project took place in the Council Chamber of Palazzo Zanca. The Municipality of Messina is the Lead Partner of the project within the framework of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme 2021-2027.
The session was convened by the President of the VI Commission, Councilor Antonino Bonfiglio, who placed on the agenda the progress of the project and the role of Messina’s local excellences in building a sustainable tourism offer. This matter falls fully within the purview of the Commission, which is tasked with overseeing the productive activities and economic development of the territory, and which found here an opportunity for in-depth analysis of the impacts on agricultural enterprises, village communities, and the hospitality system. The President led the proceedings, encouraging discussion between the members and the representatives of the Administration and the project.
The Councilor for Agri-food Policies, Liana Cannata, outlined the political framework of the initiative. INSPIRE is part of the Administration’s strategy regarding agrobiodiversity and the enhancement of villages, where the protection of typical products and the recovery of native varieties are not merely a matter of identity, but the economic foundation upon which to build hospitality and employment. The Councilor highlighted the method adopted in recent months, which is based on direct dialogue with producers and communities, and indicated the goal of continuing the work initiated well beyond the expiration of the co-financed activities. Ultimately, the true value of a European project is measured by what remains after the funding concludes.
The Sole Project Manager, Rita Melita, presented the methodological framework and the current state of progress. INSPIRE, an acronym for INnovative Sustainable tourISm gRoundEd on agrobiodiversity, focuses on the connection between agrobiodiversity and sustainable tourism. It is driven by the idea that native varieties, agricultural knowledge, and the rural landscapes of the Mediterranean are resources upon which to build an offer capable of thriving in the off-season and distributing value across inland territories. The Municipality of Messina leads the partnership as the Lead Partner and coordinates a process that alternates territorial analysis, direct involvement of operators, and the creation of lasting tools. Chief among these is the Local Pact, through which local stakeholders make commitments that extend beyond the duration of the co-financing. The activities already carried out and those planned for the coming months in the metropolitan area were also presented.
The discussion with the members of the Commission focused on the expected impacts for the inland communities, the relationship between the project activities and the ordinary planning of the institution, and the necessary conditions to ensure that the results achieved are not limited to the funding period alone.
The INSPIRE project (INnovative Sustainable tourISm gRoundEd on agrobiodiversity), code Euro-MED0401041, CUP F49I25000250006, is co-financed by the European Union within the Interreg Euro-MED Programme 2021-2027. The Municipality of Messina is the Lead Partner of the partnership.
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