From confiscation to rebirth: land taken from the mafia becomes an opportunity for employment and social justice. This is the story told by Raffaella Conci, vice president of Terre Joniche, a social cooperative that is part of the Libera Terra Mediterraneo Consortium, promoted by the association Libera. Associazioni, nomi e numeri contro le mafie [Libera. Associations, Names and Numbers Against Mafias]. One hundred hectares in Calabria, between Isola Capo Rizzuto and Cirò, cultivated organically. With facilities dedicated to responsible tourism, educational camps, and training.
What does it mean to invest in a territory wounded by the ‘ndrangheta?
It means overcoming dynamics of resignation and building a counter-narrative of Calabria. We’re often told that the only solution is to leave our homeland, because here competition is distorted by criminality: beyond the normal challenges of running a business, you have to factor in extortion, and that certainly doesn’t encourage investment. We offer a viable alternative.
How?
We manage public assets based on the principle of a non-profit economy which, to be clear, is not an economy uninterested in profit—quite the opposite. However, we reject the logic of individual enrichment and choose to invest in the territory, also considering social and environmental impact. We are a real enterprise that respects rights – the opposite of a criminal economy.
Have you faced intimidation?
The mafia always tries. Their idea is: “If that property is no longer mine, then it shouldn’t belong to anyone”. We received a confiscated house ready to be used, but it was smashed with pickaxes. Then came threats – even bullets. The message wasn’t just directed at the Cooperative, but at society as a whole: be careful, don’t follow this project.
How do you overcome fear?
With a collective response. There were demonstrations of solidarity throughout the province. As a result, today other local associations have taken over confiscated assets. We broke the wall of silence.
What is the advantage of being part of the Consortium?
Working with economies of scale, having access to shared machinery for processing products, and reaching supermarkets. The Consortium enhances the value of the products; we guarantee ethical and quality standards. If consumers choose us, it shouldn’t be just because “it’s a good cause,” but because the product is genuinely good. The Libera Terra brand supports a fair economy – one that pays producers with dignity and rejects exploitation. That should be the norm, not the exception.
by Carmen Vogani