{"id":23891,"date":"2018-12-07T13:26:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T13:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comunitaprogettosud.it\/la-lectio-magistralis-di-don-giacomo-panizza-per-la-campagna-coltiviamo-humus\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T12:33:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T10:33:59","slug":"la-lectio-magistralis-di-don-giacomo-panizza-per-la-campagna-coltiviamo-humus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comunitaprogettosud.it\/en\/la-lectio-magistralis-di-don-giacomo-panizza-per-la-campagna-coltiviamo-humus\/","title":{"rendered":"LECTIO MAGISTRALIS BY FATHER GIACOMO PANIZZA FOR THE “CULTIVATING HUMUS” CAMPAIGN"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The **Humus Network** comprises ten organic farming collectives across Italy and numerous civic groups dedicated to sharing values \u200b\u200band best practices regarding food\u2014connecting everyone from producers to consumers. The network launched its “Coltiviamo Humus” (Let’s Cultivate Humus) campaign in Lamezia Terme, Calabria, at the Sala Sintonia venue of the *Comunit\u00e0 Progetto Sud*.<\/p>\n

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At the start of the proceedings, **Annamaria Bavaro**, president of the *Le Agricole* Cooperative, noted that the event represents “an opportunity to cultivate\u2014ethically and organically\u2014relationships between social groups that share common goals regarding respect for human dignity and nature.”<\/p>\n

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Don Giacomo Panizza, Annamaria Bavaro, Maurizio Agostino<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

**Maurizio Agostino**, the coordinator of the “Coltiviamo Humus” campaign, presented an initiative that has been active in Italy for nearly a decade. He explained that the project “aims to strengthen a community-based organic supply chain\u2014linking producers and consumers\u2014that incorporates environmental, economic, and social sustainability, as well as local development.” “In short,” says Agostino, “the goal of this campaign is to grow the Humus community through everyone’s contribution. We aim to offer businesses technical support and professional guidance aligned with the network’s values, while simultaneously ensuring that all consumers have access to concrete information, education, networking opportunities, and meeting points.”<\/p>\n

However, it was Pope Francis\u2019s encyclical *Laudato si\u2019* that served as the framework for the *lectio magistralis* delivered by **Father Giacomo Panizza**. His talk offered the audience themes for reflection on respecting the Earth\u2014viewed both as a “mother” that nourishes us and as a “sister” with whom we share our existence.<\/p>\n

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Father Giacomo Panizza<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

“The Earth Precedes Us”\u2014this was the title of the talk. “It serves to remind everyone,” he said, “that secular and religious perspectives on the environment can find common ground. It is humanly reasonable to believe that the Earth must be safeguarded, respected, and increasingly transformed into a ‘common home,’ as written in *Laudato si\u2019*.” It was a call to protect the Blue Planet, for\u2014as he noted\u2014”Earth, polluted and choked with non-biodegradable waste, risks becoming a vast rubbish dump. This poisons the climate, drives global warming, causes the loss of forests and marine food chains, and triggers the migration of animals\u2014and consequently of human populations\u2014phenomena that are unfolding right before our eyes.” And\u2014concluding by offering a sort of summary guide for future reference\u2014he notes: “The earth calls upon people and cultures to exercise vigilance, commitment, education, and spirituality in order to: adopt mindful lifestyles; practice dialogue across differences and forge an alliance between humanity and the environment (one that goes beyond mere concrete, plastic, etc.); embrace a spirit of tenderness toward all creatures; and take care not to neglect the challenging forms of civic and political love, while also cherishing the value of rest.”<\/p>\n

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The event also provided a perfect opportunity to enjoy a delicious organic aperitif, featuring products from the *Le Agricole* cooperative, prepared and served by **M\u00ecscita**, the catering service launched by the cooperative itself.<\/p>\n