The Charter of Chianti. A project for improving the quality of Chianti landscape

The Charter of Chianti is a project financed by 8 Communes in the Chianti area and by the European Community. This objective is to improve the sustainability of the Chianti landscape and maintain a balance between the agricultural topsoil which is lost and reformed each year – a crucial problem in hilly areas. In order to reach this objective, an expert system was set up which is now managed on-line by ARSIA, an agency of the Tuscan Regional Council. Entrepreneurs can therefore insert data relative to the transformation they wish to perform (e.g. the planting of vines) and the system replies as to whether the transformation is practicable or not. Should the proposed transformation not have the correct qualities, the system suggests modifications by presenting a new project that could be carried out.