On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the “Loppiano Prima” cooperative, a forerunner experience of ecological agriculture, a weekend of in-depth study dedicated to integral ecology in Loppiano (FI). In the Week in which the world celebrates the eighth anniversary of the Encyclical Letter Laudato sì’.
LOPPIANO AUDITORIUM, MAY 27-28, 2023
“Love of Creation, A Prophecy On The Way.” This is the title of the conference to be held on May 27 and 28 at the Auditorium of the Focolare citadel near Florence to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the “Loppiano Prima” cooperative.
Founded on May 19, 1973, with eight founding members to put to good use the land that had been donated by the Folonari family to the Focolare Movement in the Chianti hills in the Florentine Valdarno, Loppiano Prima is a cooperative with widespread shareholding that now has 3,256 members. As specified in its bylaws, “it has no speculative purposes and is governed by principles of prevalent mutuality.” Furthermore, “Its main purpose is to achieve the general interest of the community in the human promotion and social integration of its citizens, as well as to contribute in implementing universal fraternity.”
This is how, over the past 50 years, on uncultivated land that had been abandoned due to the emigration of so many farmers in the postwar period, the Loppiano Prima cooperative has become the protagonist of a peculiar experience of ante litteram ecological agriculture, which has put humanity, nature and their relationship at the center.
The conference will begin in the morning of May 27 with the annual meeting of members. In the afternoon, at 3:30 p.m., through a first round table discussion, the history of Loppiano Prima will be retraced, delving into the value of its experience born in the context of the first international Focolare citadel. It will then rediscover its charismatic roots, retrace its journey and trace its prospects for development. In the second part of the afternoon, a second panel discussion will be devoted to explore the themes of integral ecology, sustainability and care for creation, starting with the company’s commitment to organic cultivation and production that respects the entire agricultural ecosystem, environment and landscape.
Speakers will include Luciano Orioli and Leonardo Nale of the Laudato sì Movement; Gianmaria Simonetti of the EcoOne network; Gabriella Bardarelli, and Gabriella Bardarelli, professor of Accounting at the University of Bologna.
The program on Sunday, May 28, will be opened by Dr. Sergio Rondinara, Rondinara, professor of Epistemology at Sophia University Institute, who will give a keynote lecture entitled: “The Presence of God Under Things.” This will be followed by experiential workshops open to all.
The conference, “Love of Creation, A Prophecy On The Way,” is symbolically placed in the context of “Laudato Si’ Week” (May 21-28, 2023). The progress made globally in putting into practice Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’” on the care of creation, is highlighted here.
The conference will be preceded on Friday, May 26, at 8:45 p.m. by a public screening of Pope Francis’ film “The Letter.”
The Program of “Love of Creation, A Prophecy On The Way” can be downloaded HERE.
Cittadel of Loppiano Press Officer
Tamara Pastorelli
Tel. +393470064403
email: ufficiostampa@loppiano.it
www.loppiano.it