Italian excellence in agri-food enjoys international renown. Until now, however, the country has suffered from a lack of large-scale logistics platforms, capable of improving the distribution of fresh produce and further enhancing the value chain in Italy and abroad.
Over the last few years, two important projects have been launched to develop Italian agri-food logistics platforms: in Milan with the Foody 2025 project and more recently in Rome with Car. Prologis has decided to invest in these two important projects by bringing its know-how in developing modern, technologically advanced and environmentally and socially sustainable buildings for agri-food logistics.
At the heart of Milan’s agri-food market, known as Ortomercato, Prologis will soon begin developing a second building, named Milano DC5. The project provides for the construction of a building of approximately 12,000 square metres, including offices, subdivided with customised spaces to meet the specific needs of operators. The building, which has LEED environmental certification, will house temperature-controlled cells and a parking area with electric charging stations and 45 parking spaces.
In Rome, a major development plan for the Guidonia Centro Agroalimentare (Agri-Food Centre) will make it the third largest market in Europe and will include, in addition to new buildings, an urban park to serve the local community. Building here on the experience already gained at the Ortomercato market in Milan with the DC3 building, we plan to develop up to 95,000 square metres of modern spaces for agri-food logistics. In this way, we shall contribute to the development of an avant-garde infrastructure for the whole of central Italy, which will have important economic and social repercussions.
With our participation in the Foody 2025 and Car projects, we are not only making a significant contribution to the development of two strategic markets for the ‘Made in Italy’ food industry, but are also promoting social innovation through the introduction of the PARKlife philosophy. Indeed, we think of our logistics parks more and more as aesthetically attractive places, small urban centres where consumers can find a series of services that will enrich their working day. In Milan, in cooperation with So.Ge.Mi, we will pursue our commitment to promoting urban art with new works and will create new infrastructure to serve the community. In this way, we will create a new cultural attraction focus, open to all residents of Milan who traditionally visit the market on Saturdays to do their shopping.