The Association of Rural Landscapes of Historical Interest(PRIS) establishes the first recognition
for those who actively promote traditional agricultural and silvo-pastoral practices, and the Prosecco Protection Consortium supports it.
An award for those who actively protect quality agricultural landscapes, an integral part of our culture and national identity. Launching the first award dedicated to those who promote agricultural and silvo-pastoral practices of historical value is theAssociation of Rural Landscapes of Historical Interest (PRIS) E.T.S. An appeal that is being strongly joined, through a major economic contribution, by the Consorzio di Tutela del Vino Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco, whose hills have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The word from the director of the Consortium
“To be an active and concrete part of this Award represents for the Consorzio di Tutela Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco a commitment consistent with our identity and the path we have taken over the years.” – States the Director of the Consortium, Diego Tomasi . “We consider this initiative a project of high cultural and strategic profile, because we deeply believe in the role of the PRIS Association. And in the value of the work it carries out to protect historic rural landscapes. We share its founding principles and recognize the daily commitment of those who make those values concrete through tangible projects and actions on the ground. The care, preservation and enhancement of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene area – recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – have always been at the heart of our action. This Award is a natural and convinced expression of this.”
The Rural Historic Landscapes Award
The Historic Rural Landscapes Award was created with the aim of enhancing, defending and increasing awareness of the agricultural practices that over the years and centuries have shaped the Italian territory. Making it recognizable and loved all over the world. Terraced cultivation, on impervious mountain and hill slopes, dry stone walls. Original irrigation systems, heroic vineyards, pastures for livestock, maintained for decades or centuries. Olives groves more than a hundred years old, but also forests cultivated to obtain, timber and other valuable products, such as chestnut flour. Agriculture designs the country and marks its eating habits, through unique products and an equally extraordinary cuisine that today is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The announcement of the competition
The call for proposals includes recovery or redevelopment interventions, planning, protection, conservation and study initiatives. But also of communication, as long as already in place or completed no more than three years ago, and is as cross-cutting as possible, open to public bodies, associations, government and nonprofit entities, farms, consortia, and private citizens. An economic award of 2,000 euros is up for grabs. Winners will also benefit from a press and social media promotional campaign already planned by the PRIS Association. Nominations can be submitted via email until noon on April 30, 2026.
PRIS association president’s comment
Prof. Mauro Agnoletti, President of the PRIS Association is UNESCO Chair in Agricultural Heritage Landscapes at the University of Florence. Recently called to represent the Italian landscape in the Technical Scientific Committee dedicated to Fine Arts, Archaeology and Landscape of the Ministry of Culture. He said that agriculture is the one that most persistently and pervasively has permeated our culture, as well as the forms of our landscape. So many of our villages, historic centers and monuments owe their existence to agricultural activities. The rural landscape isalso part of our cultural heritage.”
Notice of competition and specifics on how to participate are available on the PRIS Association website (direct link): https://www.associazionepris.it/blog-detail/post/592988/premiopaesaggiruralistorici2026
