Cherasco International Institute for Snail Breeding

The Cherasco International Institute for Snail Breeding, since 2018 known as the Cherasco International Institute of Heliciculture (CIIH), is an Italian organization dedicated to the development, promotion and marketing of biocycle snail farming (heliciculture) and related products, services and events. Based in Cherasco in the Piedmont region, it is widely credited with putting the Italian heliciculture sector on the map and turning Cherasco into what is often called the snail capital of Italy. By 2020 Italy had become Europe's largest producer of snails and, after France, its second-largest consumer. The institute traces its origins to the early 1970s, when Giovanni "Gianni" Avagnina, who had been active in snail breeding since 1973 and is regarded as the father of the Italian heliciculture sector, worked at the local tourist office in Cherasco. Inspired by an article about a retired military officer's passion for snails, Avagnina invited him to give a conference in Cherasco; its success marked the beginning of a new chapter in the town's history. The first experimental outdoor breeding began in the early 1970s, growing out of the old tradition of the lumachiere. In 1973 the Snail Breeding Centre was founded, renamed the International Snail Breeding Institute a year later, and further refined to the Cherasco International Institute of Heliciculture in 2018. In 1978 the Associazione Nazionale Elicoltori (ANE, National Association of Snail Breeders) of Cherasco was established. Many breeders joined and were certified according to the standards of the promoted breeding method, allowing their product to be marketed under the Helix brand. The closely intertwined institute supports the breeders and handles marketing. Three months after its founding, the ANE was officially recognized by the then Italian Snail Breeders Association in Rome as the official Italian association for professional snail breeders. In 1998 the institute issued the first Golden Snail, a ceremony that has since become part of the long-running Festa della lumaca in cucina. Since 2001 the CIIH has contracted with foreign breeders under its own conditions through the so-called International Contract. This model is a one-sided contract in which the CIIH has nothing to lose while the breeder is obliged to buy the necessary materials, such as seeds and snail fences, from the CIIH. The lucrative profit picture held out has nonetheless persuaded breeders worldwide to join: by 2019 the institute had contracts with breeders globally, in Europe (Italy, Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Hungary), Asia (Russia, Lebanon, Jordan), Africa (Tunisia, Nigeria) and South America (Argentina), with breeders in other countries such as Georgia and Ireland in the pipeline as of 2021.

The Cherasco International Institute for Snail Breeding, since 2018 known as the Cherasco International Institute of Heliciculture (CIIH), is an Italian organization dedicated to the development, promotion and marketing of biocycle snail farming (heliciculture) and related products, services and events. It is based in Cherasco, in the Piedmont region of Italy, and is widely credited with putting the Italian heliciculture sector on the map and turning Cherasco into what is often called the snail capital of Italy. By 2020 Italy had become Europe's largest producer of snails and, after France, its second-largest consumer. The institute's founder and president, Giovanni "Gianni" Avagnina, has been active in snail breeding since 1973 and is regarded as the father of the Italian heliciculture sector. He received the title of Commendatore from the Italian president for his work. He is also honorary president of the Italian Confederation of Heliciculture, an organization based in Piana di Monte Verna. Avagnina worked at the local tourist office in Cherasco when, in the early 1970s, an article appeared in Domenica del Corriere about Captain Carboni, a retired military officer in Alba, and his passion for snails. At Avagnina's invitation, Carboni held a conference on snails in Cherasco. It was a success and marked the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Cherasco, which under his guidance grew into the Italian snail capital. The first experimental outdoor breeding began in the early 1970s and developed out of the old tradition of the lumachiere. In 1973 the Snail Breeding Centre was founded, renamed the International Snail Breeding Institute a year later. Since 2018 the name has been further refined to Cherasco International Institute of Heliciculture (CIIH). In 1978 the Associazione Nazionale Elicoltori (ANE, National Association of Snail Breeders) of Cherasco was established. Many breeders joined and were certified according to the standards of the promoted breeding method, allowing their product to be marketed under the Helix brand. The closely intertwined institute supports the breeders and handles marketing. Three months after its founding, the ANE was officially recognized by the then Italian Snail Breeders Association in Rome as the official Italian association for professional snail breeders. The first Golden Snail was issued by the institute in 1998, a ceremony that has since become part of the long-running Festa della lumaca in cucina. In 2001 the International Contract was stipulated, which over the years has drawn many breeders from abroad to the institute. Since 2001 the CIIH has contracted with foreign breeders under its own conditions. This "International Contract" model is a one-sided contract in which the CIIH has nothing to lose while the breeder is obliged to buy the necessary materials, such as seeds and snail fences, from the CIIH. The lucrative profit picture held out has nonetheless persuaded breeders worldwide to join: by 2019 the institute had contracts with breeders globally. In Europe they are found in Italy, Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Bosnia, Bulgaria and Hungary; in Asia in Russia, Lebanon and Jordan; in Africa in Tunisia and Nigeria; and in South America in Argentina. Breeders in other countries, such as Georgia and Ireland, were in the pipeline as of 2021.

• 2018

  Name refined to Cherasco International Institute of Heliciculture (CIIH).

• 2001

  International Contract introduced, attracting foreign breeders.

• 1998

  First Golden Snail awarded, becoming part of the Festa della lumaca in cucina.

• 1978

  Associazione Nazionale Elicoltori (ANE) established; recognized by the Italian Snail Breeders Association in Rome three months later.

• 1974

  Renamed International Snail Breeding Institute.

• 1973

  Snail Breeding Centre founded in Cherasco.

Pioneer and standard-setter of Italian heliciculture, promoting a certified biocycle breeding method and the Helix brand.

• Biocycle snail farming method

  A certified breeding method promoted by the institute, allowing breeders to market under the Helix brand.

• Helix brand

  Brand under which certified breeders market their snail products.

• International Contract

  A one-sided contract obliging foreign breeders to buy materials from CIIH.

• Festa della lumaca in cucina
• Golden Snail

1. 1Cherasco International Institute for Snail Breedingwikidata.org
2. 2Cherasco International Institute for Snail Breedingnl.wikipedia.org