Balzana: From confiscation to the Campania Agri-Food Park, a rebirth for Santa Maria La Fossa

La Balzana is back at the center of the public agenda: a vast agricultural complex confiscated from the Casalesi family is set to be reborn as an agri-food park for typical Campania products, with production, processing, training, research, and rural tourism.

Today, Tuesday, September 15, saw a significant visit: a conference on cohesion policies and confiscated assets was held at the "Pio La Torre" Environmental Education and Documentation Center, followed by an inspection of the Balzana site in the municipality of Santa Maria La Fossa. The delegation was led by Minister for Cohesion Policies Tommaso Foti, Undersecretary of the Interior Wanda Ferro, and Naples Public Prosecutor Nicola Gratteri. The goal is to restore a productive and development function to the community, confirming Balzana as a model for rebirth and redevelopment.

The project involves approximately 200 hectares of land, homes, and rural structures confiscated in 2017 and destined for the Municipality of Santa Maria La Fossa. The project, promoted by Agrorinasce together with the municipal administration, aims to transform the former farm into a regional park with integrated agriculture, processing, training, research, and rural tourism activities. It is important to note that Balzana was designated as the first "exemplary project" approved by the National Strategy Board for the Valorization of Confiscated Assets through Cohesion Policies.

The program has already absorbed approximately €27 million in funding: €8,5 million allocated this summer by CIPESS to complete Lot 4 and reclaim the residential area of ​​the agricultural village, in addition to approximately €4,5 million already allocated by the Campania Region in two separate grants. To complete the project and make it fully operational, an additional €15,5 million is needed. It is expected that, if an executive project is also developed for the fifth lot, this sum could be disbursed as part of the planned fourth and fifth tranches.

The delegation received reassurances regarding the timeline: Balzana must once again become a "living entity" for the local community and, potentially, become a national benchmark for the management of confiscated assets. The initiative was strongly supported by Minister Foti, Prosecutor Gratteri, and Undersecretary Ferro, who reiterated their commitment to the social use of assets seized from criminals, with attention also to small businesses and initiatives not at the forefront.

At the same time, regional representatives emphasized the role of the Campania Region in the recovery process: the Region has already funded part of the project and will continue to support it, highlighting the site's significance, among the largest of the confiscated sites, and its potential for agriculture and regional development. The ANBSC and the Office of the Prefect Commissioner also emphasized the progress made and the need to accelerate the process of assigning, renovating, and making the confiscated assets accessible.

Mayor Nicolino Federico was present to welcome the visit, expressing his satisfaction with the attention shown to Balzana and highlighting the responsibility of restoring the site to productive use. On the sidelines, Agrorinasce President Maria Antonietta Troncone emphasized the need to secure resources to complete the work and continue the property's productive use. Agrorinasce CEO Giovanni Allucci emphasized the strategic importance of the project as a model for the recovery and reuse of confiscated assets and announced the goal of generating employment and social interaction within the park.

The plan also includes the prospect of increasing production and enhancing Balzana's original purpose: the processing of typical products and the creation of living and working spaces, with the goal of making the park a local and international benchmark for the reuse of confiscated assets. The next steps involve accelerating work on Lot 4 and initiating planning for Lot 5, under the banner of a Balzana that thrives on agricultural production and product processing.