In Italy the statistical data show the positive trend of the consumption of officinal plants [1] and a renewed interest of public institutions [1,2]. In the last decade this has led to the development of the processing and marketing, but did not have equal effect on the crop. In fact, about 70% of the raw material is imported. Why? It is the price the determining factor. The domestic production, which recognizes high-quality, does not compete with the price of similar production of the Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean basin, or even of Central and South America. The above observations motivate the choice of planning at the national level, interventions for sviluppo industry and also this short note.

Production in Italy, year 2010, the cultivation of MAPs involves 2,938 farms and a surface of 7,191 hectares. The medium size is approximately 2.5 hectares, year 2010, and increased from 2000 to 2010 (the surface for increased more than 200%, while the number of farms decreased of 29%) [2,3]. It is to underline that more than 2,900 hectares are ‘organic’ (41% of total surface with officinal plants, 2010) [2]. Primary production is (67%) in Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna and Marche Regions [2]. The last Italian Agricultural Census 2010 shows the increasing of surfaces and farms with MAPs in Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta (Northwest of Italy), Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli (Northeast), Emilia-Romagna and Marche (Central) regions [2].

Exchanges [2], in the year 2011, Italy imported approximately 161 million tons equals to 999 million euros of officinal plants and their derivatives (22.8% odoriferous substances for non-food industry, 30.5% odoriferous substances for the food industry), more than 50% from non-EU countries; the exports involve 82 million tons equals to 413 million euros (27.0% vegetable saps and extracts, essential oils 19.3%, 15.6% odoriferous substances for the food and beverage industry ), for two thirds directed to EU countries. Both imports and exports are increased in the period 2000- 2010. The supply-chain can be described through the operators as follows [2,3].

-Farms specialized (300-400, estimated data), or not. Specialized farms are localized in traditional areas of production: Piemonte Region, Provinces of Cuneo and, Municipalities of Moretta, Pancalieri e Savigliano, ‘Mint of Pancalieri’; areas between Puglia and Basilicata regions, and in the Sicily Regions.

-‘Integrated farms’, also called ‘a ciclo chiuso’ (closed cycle), because produce and process and market (herbs, essential oils, etc.). They are approximately one hundred.

-Wholesale. The most significant companies are about fifteen, with a market share of 80%. Many wholesalers, including companies of Germany and France, are also processors.

- Industrial companies that produce semi-finished and/or products for final consumption (food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc…) and are about 2,000 (estimated data).

- Retailers. Include: health food stores (4,500), pharmacies (17,927, 2011) and drugstores (2,398), GDO corner (292), SPA, itinerant markets, other (restaurants, fitness centers, etc.).

In general, the examined sector show: a) strengths related to the high quality of domestic products, the increase in consumption and in the export, b) weaknesses due to lack of legislation, and, at the level primary production, poor organization of producers and small size of farms with high production costs [1-3].

The Plan covers the years 2013-2016 and focuses, in the second part, on the objectives [2]. The main objective is to increase the competitiveness of the whole sector with actions at the national, regional and local level. In particular, it is the primary production that requires intervention ‘targeted,’ and the update of the National Law 6 January 1931, No. 99 that regulates the cultivation and collection of officinal plants [1,2,5,6]. From the legislative point of view it is also necessary to update and harmonize the regional laws [6]. To improve the knowledge of the sector it is necessary to collect statistical data trough: a) ad hoc surveys for the collection of data, and b) the updating of the statistical classification of products / sectors of activities that do not reflect the current commercial reality. Then are detailed more specific objectives (principals) that would allow farms primarily to access to EU funding: a) ask you to enter the industry between those regulated by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) , with interventions similar to those used for the flower sector , and b) to enter the Plan actions in the Rural Development Programmes of the EU [6]. It proposes measures to enhance domestic production (e.g. trademarks, certification), national actions of communication and promotion and improvement of the distribution system. This last aspect is of importance at the level of primary production and provides for the creation of ‘Centers of primary processing’ (economies of scale), and the formation of Associations, Cooperatives and Consortia of producers. The key issue is to encourage the entry of young people into the sector, particularly primary, and support for export-oriented firms. Moreover, the Plan expected to create a ‘National Observatory on prices and statistics’ at the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forest Policies.

Finally, the Plan gives space to the research: to define the priorities of the research activities; b) to better coordinate public and private research, e.g. through the establishment of ‘Centers of excellence’ that provide support and services, e.g. logistics, to producers. The lines of research include: development of certified seed production to reduce the import and to better check the quality of raw materials; manufacture of machines for production and collection (containing the cost of production); preservation of germ-plasm, natural and indigenous; development of plant protection products suitable for ‘natural productions’ that shall not contain chemical residues. The financing of actions: there are no direct funding but only indirect, arising from the measures of the Rural Development Programmes (regional level in Italy) that use of EU funds [2,3,6].

The increase in the consumption of ‘everything that is natural’ has favored the resumption of production of herbs in Italy. In the last decade increased the quantities produced and exported, and expanded the average farm size. The weakest part of the chain is still the primary production. There are some large farms, but generally they have small size, with a negative effect on the cost of production. It is as always highlighted the need to modernize the legislation. It is the result of the research work carried out by ISMEA that led to develop the Plan for the sector of officinal plants 2013-2016, with the identification of objectives and actions, on the whole, to increase the competitiveness of domestic production.

The Author is grateful to the Working Groups of ISMEA and of Ministry of Agricultural and Agro Food Policies of the Italian Republic. The documents produced by them, 3 and 4 of the References, have enabled us to write this note.