Comune di Argelato (Bologna)
Italy
30,640 eggs per year
113 hens per year
The Municipality of Argelato in the Province of Bologna, Italy ensures that all meals in the region's canteens use free-range organic eggs. This includes all the 700 meals a day eaten in the region's nurseries, primary and lower secondary schools as well social care homes for the elderly. Argelato has enforced a law set by the region of Emilia Romagna that states school meals must be prepared with organic produce. While the law covers nursery and primary schools, Argelato has extended this, making it a leader in Italy.
"By this choice the Municipality of Argelato, always sensitive about environmental problems, is operating for its citizen's health and in particular the most vulnerable ones: the children. At the same time it promotes and supports animal welfare.
"We are not organic fanatics but the use of organic products represents for us a good start for a good quality canteen, because it proposes 'clean' food, i.e. without chemicals and pesticides. At the same time the use of organic eggs, products and meats contributes to ensure better life and health conditions to animals. We are very proud to receive a European award which acknowledges our choices and feel encouraged to continue on the path of safeguarding at the same time our citizen's health, the environment and animal welfare."