THE CONSORTIUM
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
The Protection Consortium for PDO Biella and Vercelli Baraggia Rice was recognised by the Ministry for Agricultural and Forestry Policies on November 15th 2007. It is in charge of activities to protect, promote and valorise the PDO Baraggia Rice. The production chain behind PDO rice consists of agricultural firms, rice farms and food packers operating in the Baraggia area in Piedmont, a foothill zone looking towards the Monte Rosa and extending over 44 thousand hectares between the provinces of Biella and Vercelli. Approximately half of this area is destined to the cultivation of rice, with no less than 22 thousand hectares of rice fields. 28 municipalities are located in the PDO Baraggia rice cultivation, collection and transformation area: Albano Vercellese, Arborio, Balocco, Brusnengo, Buronzo, Carisio, Casanova Elvo, Castelletto Cervo, Cavaglià, Collobiano, Dorzano, Formigliana, Gattinara, Ghislarengo, Gifflenga, Greggio, Lenta, Massazza, Masserano, Mottalciata, Oldenico, Rovasenda, Roasio, Salussola, San Giacomo Vercellese, Santhià, Villanova Biellese, Villarboit.
Each step of the production process must be checked by a specific structure. The control and certification body designated by the Ministry for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies for the PDO “Biella and Vercelli Baraggia Rice” is the National Rice Association, which has the task of verifying that the origins and production methods are compliant with requirements set by the official procedural guidelines.
