The objective of the tender
Collect memberships for the processing of wild ungulate meat destined for charity, thanks to the subsequent distribution by the Food Bank. This is the objective of the public notice available on the institutional sites of the Tuscan local health authorities and intended for game processing centers (Cls), which will subsequently be able to start the process for the transfer to charity of the meat coming from wild ungulates killed as part of the regional plans control. With its resolution 961/2023 the Region has provided for the disbursement of reimbursements of costs incurred by the CLS through the Local Health Authorities, recipients for the 2023/2024 hunting year (until 31 May) of a total loan of 40 thousand euros: 18 thousand per ASL South East; 11.000 to the North West; and as many 11.000 at the Center.
Ungulate emergency
“This project – says the vice-president and councilor for agri-food Stefania Saccardi – which I launched when I was responsible for regional health, allows for a socially useful use of the meat of slaughtered wild boars. It gives us the possibility of partially dealing with the ungulate emergency and at the same time distributing a product with high nutritional value such as meat, in this case wild boar, to people in food difficulty. The initiative is part of a circular economy perspective, which allows us to optimize the resources of our territory with not only an environmental but a social objective. I thank the Food Bank and the Caritas network which in the region will ensure that the meat of the slaughtered animals physically reaches people's tables".
Families in difficulty
“With the publication of the notice – states the health councilor, Simone Bezzini – we have entered the operational phase of this initiative which we hope, again this year, will bring some relief to the lives of the families most in difficulty. I believe it is important to highlight how this solidarity project, which was born in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Hunting and Fishing and with the Tuscan territorial hunting areas, has multiple positive effects, not only from the ethical and social point of view, but by responding also to health and hygiene needs thanks. In fact, before being distributed, the meat will be inspected in the game processing centers by the local health authority veterinarians, called upon to conduct a direct action of prevention and early detection of any diseases that may affect wildlife, and thus guaranteeing the user a product of quality that complies with food safety standards. Thanks are due to the Food Bank which, with its infrastructure and distribution network, allows us, not only for this initiative, to intercept and support the essential needs of people in disadvantaged or marginalized conditions."
Items coming from hunting activities
The meat will come from a portion of the animals killed according to the methods established by regional legislation and which the ATC will decide to allocate to the food charity initiative. Furthermore, the transfer of animals from hunting and regulated control activities is also foreseen by third parties: regional park authorities, wild boar hunting teams, ungulate management districts, AFV and AAV. The processed carcasses will be entrusted for distribution to the Tuscany Food Bank, which is equipped with a specific and peculiar organization and territorial network that allows the conservation of the meat, guaranteeing compliance with food safety objectives and their distribution in order to support the essential needs of Tuscan families and communities. (Source Chiara Bini – Tuscany News)