A/HRC/43/44/Add.5 34. Low prices are paid for agricultural products not only at double-race auctions. For example, large distributors heavily influence prices along food value chains, 8 forcing producers either to lower their prices and pay service tax to big distributors, or to be excluded from the main food distribution channels, where Italians purchase 70 per cent of the food they consume.9 35. Parliament will have the opportunity to address the issue of bargaining power imbalances in a broader way when transposing into national law the European Union Directive on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain, as provided for in its article 9. 10 The legislative process must be organized to allow wide and transparent public consultations with farmers’ associations (in particular those representing smallholders) to map all the unfair practices that are currently used in the food system and that go beyond the limited list contained in the Directive. 36. Another initiative would be to support urban markets where farmers can bring their products directly to the consumers without passing through big supermarkets. This option reduces costs for farmers, ensures better quality for consumers and represents a more sustainable food purchase. A study carried out on food markets in Rome highlighted the great potential that farmers’ markets have to foster the right to food for sellers, as well as for buyers. However, concerted efforts should be made by local administrations to facilitate the development of farmers’ markets and highlight their inherit value and importance.11 37. Although family farmers face significant challenges, the number of subsistence farmers has increased. Since Italy ratified the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, efforts have been made to develop and approve a series of framework laws to provide smallholder farmers with full recognition and protection.12 Smallholders who use agriculture as their main form of livelihood and practise organic and agroecological farming are still waiting for the approval of the proposed laws, which will hopefully be enacted in the near future. 38. Women make up a significant share of the workforce in the agricultural sector but are often invisible because they are generally overlooked and, most importantly, not involved in regional, national and local policies and programmes targeting smallholders and agricultural workers. Many such policies and programmes are still lacking a gender-based approach. C. Social farming and agroecology 39. At the national level, the Government has carried out several reforms that have impacted the agricultural sector and the agroprocessing industry. For example, Law No. 141/2015 was enacted to facilitate “social farming” in order to increase the protection of biodiversity and agroecology, and the enhancement of autochthonous agrifood value chains. The law has facilitated the establishment and recognition of a number of agricultural projects with social value, such as the involvement of youth in agriculture, the rehabilitation of convicts through their participation in agricultural activities, the fight against the Mafia and awareness-raising on the protection of the environment.13 40. Similarly, there are a number of ongoing initiatives to facilitate and stimulate the growth of the agricultural sector, as well as its transformation and its value added. In particular, government efforts in this area include the provision of subsidies for the engagement in agriculture of youth and women, awareness-raising on the importance of organic agriculture and the Mediterranean diet, the organization of events to discuss the prevention of soil degradation and desertification, and the launch of large events to foster the 8 9 10 11 12 13 6 See F. Ciconte and S. Liberti, Il Grande Carrello: Chi Decide Cosa Mangiamo (Rome, Editori Laterza, 2019). Terra! Onlus, “#ASTEnetevei: grande distribuzione organizzata – dalle aste on-line all’inganno del sottocosto” (2017). Transposition must take place before 1 November 2021. Terra! Onlus, “Magna Roma” (2018). See www.agricolturacontadina.org/. Rete Rurale Nazionale, “Report on Italian social farming” (2017).