The Presidia sustain quality production at risk of extinction, protect unique regions and ecosystems, recover traditional processing methods, and safeguard local breeds and plant varieties.
Presidia farmers commit themselves to:
- raising animals in pastures as much as possible and guaranteeing access to mountain pasture in the summer
- safeguarding local breeds
- providing adequate space in comfortable shelters
- guaranteeing adequate natural light
- maintaining cow-calf operations (where reproduction occurs on the farm) and allowing calves to remain with their mothers for the necessary time
- avoiding mutilations
- guaranteeing a high-quality diet composed of grass and hay, integrated with grains and pulses of local origin (where possible) when necessary
- avoiding the use of maize silage and low-quality feed made with byproducts from industrial farming and food production (sometimes almost waste), urea, additives, or supplements
- avoiding forced feeding
- using antibiotics only when necessary and doubling the suspension period, rather than employing preventative antibiotic treatments
- slaughtering close to the farms and guaranteeing adequate transportation for the animals
Over the next few years, Slow Food will undertake a revision of the Presidia protocols to improve the aspects relating to animal welfare.