摘要:The paper aim is to provide a contribution to the comprehension of the role of agro-environmental policies in the development of organic agriculture within a specific territory. To this purpose it was considered necessary to distinguish between certified and subsided organic agriculture, giving the measure and the reasons of this difference. The effect of the subsidies scheduled by the Rural Development Plan of Lazio Region on territorial evolution and distribution of organic agriculture in the province of Viterbo has been analysed. Farmer’s choices about converting to organic agriculture and the selection of cultivated crops have been influenced by the variables that determine the level of subsidies: cultural classes and preferential areas. More specifically, the definition of preferential areas seems to represent an important tool that politicians can use to orientate the future territorial development of this sector.