Rural Development Association

Brief description
ASR is an association, a public equivalent body, whose  members are 28 public institutions amongst which there are Municipalities, Mountain Communities, Provinces of 9 different Italian regions and 7 national private Associations representing the rural, academic and professional sectors.

ASR works to promote sustainable development  for local communities, with special attention to the most disadvantaged  rural areas. Three  are the main sectors of expertise:

Sustainable and responsible tourism to spread best practices capable of safeguarding natural and cultural local resources while increasing the attractiveness level of the involved territories

The welcoming policy as a method of fighting the depopulation process of the most disadvantaged territories while promoting the arrival of new residents and investments toward rural and mountain areas

The network of rural fairs to strengthen the role of local events rich in development potential and capable of becoming a stepping stone for local economies.    

Recently implemented activities:

• Organization in Rome of the second meeting of the NATIONAL NETWORK on the Welcoming Policy in Italy. December 2009
• Participation, in the role of promoter, at the meeting held in Brussels for the presentation of the European Association on the Welcoming Policy to the European Commission (DG AGRI and DG REGIO). October 2009
• Organization in Rome of the first meeting of the NATIONAL NETWORK of the Welcoming Policy in Italy. July 2009
• Accompanying the delegation of the Region of Molise at the meeting of the RUR@CT NETWORK at Limoges, France. June 2009
• Accompanying the Region of Molise in the implementation of the activities necessary for the adoption of the Welcoming Policy. From September 2008 to December 2009
• Participation in the second edition of the event “University of the Welcoming Policy” by Clermont Ferrard.  June 2008.

Brief description of the territory
Brindisi is located in a natural harbor that goes far into the Adriatic coast of Apulia. It is a major port for trade with Greece and the Middle East. The province of Brindisi has a long and important agricultural tradition that it is an essential pillar of its economy, both in terms of employment and production.  There is an high concentration of different agricultural productions, especially the typically Mediterranean ones such as olive, grapevine, wheat and vegetables. Much of the hinterland is occupied by the Murge Platueau that, in the north, meets the Itria Valley, known as the "Land of the Trulli." Cultivated fields alternate, in a mosaic of colors, with large expanses of olive groves, vineyards and colorful orchards, interrupted only by roads and sporadic clearings.