THE PROJECT
The project SODOSOST - Optimization of sowing practices in durum wheat to improve the sustainability of cereal farming in Puglia - has been financed under the public notice for the submission of applications for support under Submeasure 16.2 and 2 supports the implementation of pilot projects and activities for the development of new products, practices, processes and technologies in the agri-food and forestry sector, as well as the transfer and dissemination of the results obtained by Operational Groups.
The project was granted aid under the Public Notice approved by D.A.G. no. 194 of 12/09/2018, published in the B.U.R.P. no. 121 of 20/09/2018, which provides for a total contribution of €. 460,700.00 against a total expenditure eligible for benefits of €. 460,700.00
Puglia is the main Italian reality in cereal cultivation with 411,575 hectares dedicated. Production, at about 1.5 million tons, is particularly focused on durum wheat, oats, and other minor cereals (ISTAT).
Within Apulian cereal farming, the area involved in sowing on sod has increased in recent years and is set to increase further due to the incentive measures provided by the 2014 - 2020 Rural Development Plan toward conservation agriculture and, in particular, toward the adoption of no-tillage practices.
These practices have considerable advantages mainly due to both a pronounced reduction in surface erosion of soils and direct tillage costs, as well as an increased water reserve capacity of the soils.
While this technique has undisputed environmental and economic advantages, in accordance with what has emerged from the meetings organized among GO members and from what is reported in the relevant bibliography, there are some critical issues to be overcome in order to promote its diffusion. The main ones concern:
control of fungal diseases and weeds, the management of which results in high production costs due to the necessary and recurrent use of herbicides and fungicides;
Lower efficiency of phosphorus and nitrogen use.
The protection of grain from insect attacks during storage.
In addition, while good production standards can be ensured with sowing in the field, quality performance is slightly lower.
The SODOSOST project therefore involves the implementation of a series of activities aimed at the development and transfer of innovative techniques capable of overcoming the critical issues highlighted in the previous paragraphs.
OBJECTIVES
Conservation agriculture and dryland planting in particular is a farming system that has the potential to minimize environmental impact while performing an important service in the "fight against climate change." Being an "energy-saving" technique, in fact, it allows to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and has the potential to transform agricultural soils into carbon sinks, with interesting implications in terms of soil fertility (organic matter and humus) and mitigation of the greenhouse effect. The overall aim of this project is to contribute to a greater diffusion of conservation agriculture practices (sowing on sod) for durum wheat in the regional and national territory, improving the sustainability and food security of production through innovative technical means and cultivation techniques and optimizing eco-sustainable strategies during the field and post-harvest phases.
To achieve the overall goal, the following operational objectives will be pursued:
CHARACTERIZE THE TECHNOLOGICAL QUALITY
nutritional and health benefits of durum wheat under conditions of sowing in the field for the purpose of its differentiation and enhancement in the market.
IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE PRACTICES
for sustainable defense through testing and validation of alternative and sustainable fungicide-acting formulations.
ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT
of process innovations in order to transfer awareness and knowledge to supply chain actors and consumers.
KNOW THE DYNAMICS AND ACTORS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN
In order to contribute to the efficiency of the supply chain itself.
IMPROVING THE USE EFFICIENCY OF N AND P NUTRIENTS (NUE, PUE)
through the use of biofertilizers or plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) in order to reduce fertilizer use.
EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS AND PERSISTENCE
of inert powders (diatom powders, zeolites) for the control of insect pests in post-harvest grain.
CONDUCT THE MARKET ANALYSIS
to assess potential target markets for Apulian durum wheat produced using the techniques developed by this project.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The innovations that will be developed by the project will be of easy transferability to the productive world and can generate important effects even in a short period of time.
From the production point of view, the expected results are as follows:
Reduction of production costs and maintenance/increase of yields.
Expansion of the cultivated area according to the techniques developed with the project, thanks to the increase in competitiveness that the innovations will confer to this type of cultivation.
From an economic point of view, it is expected:
A reduction in production costs, a consequence of the lower use of production inputs per unit of product obtained (savings in fertilizer and phytosanitary treatments, both pre and post-harvest).
Potential improvement in the selling price of the product as a consequence of its characterization and better knowledge of the target market capable of enhancing the value of this type of product.
Improved profitability of farms and the supply chain.
From the environmental point of view, however, the following is expected:
Increased soil organic matter
Increased soil organic matter
- Reduction in the environmental footprint of durum wheat production due to improved efficiency of production processes, both in the field and post-harvest (less use of synthetic insecticides and fungicides, less use of synthetic fertilizers).
- reduced consumption of fossil fuels with the potential to transform agricultural soils into carbon sinks, with interesting implications in terms of soil fertility (organic matter and humus) and mitigation of the greenhouse effect.
LEVEL OF INNOVATIVENESS
The innovations to be introduced are as follows:
- Development of a cultivation protocol for durum wheat under no-till conditions capable of improving nutrient use efficiency and containing plant diseases through the use of biofertilizers.
- Use of indigenous plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) that can provide an environmentally sustainable alternative solution to traditional agronomic practices by improving nutrient use efficiency, modulating hormone levels, and limiting the inhibitory effect of phytopathogens by promoting their biocontrol.
- Introduction of low or no environmental impact formulations capable of inhibiting fungal development.
- Improving the quality and food safety of cereals through the adoption of an eco-sustainable defense protocol against harmful insects in postharvest by adopting inert powders that, due to the physical type mechanism of action, are allowed in biological control.
FROM THE PRODUCTION POINT OF VIEW, THE EXPECTED RESULTS ARE:
- Reducing production costs and maintaining/increasing yields.
- Expansion of the area cultivated according to the techniques developed through the project, due to the increased competitiveness that the innovations will bring to this type of cultivation.
ENVIRONMENTALLY, IT IS EXPECTED:
- Increased soil organic matter
- Reduction in the environmental footprint of durum wheat production due to improved efficiency of production processes, both in the field and post-harvest (less use of synthetic insecticides and fungicides, less use of synthetic fertilizers).
- reduced consumption of fossil fuels with the potential to transform agricultural soils into carbon sinks, with interesting implications in terms of soil fertility (organic matter and humus) and mitigation of the greenhouse effect.
FROM THE ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW IT IS EXPECTED:
- A reduction in production costs, a consequence of the lower use of production inputs per unit of product obtained (savings in fertilizer and phytosanitary treatments, both pre- and post-harvest).
- Potential improvement in the selling price of the product as a consequence of its characterization and better knowledge of the target market capable of enhancing the value of this type of product.
- Improved profitability of farms and the supply chain.
FROM THE SOCIAL POINT OF VIEW IS EXPECTED:
an improvement in employment opportunities in the area, but more importantly, an improvement in working conditions in the production and post-harvest stages (due to improved sustainability).
THE ACTIVITIES
WP1 - COORDINATION
Coordination activities include secretarial duties and technical-operational coordination, management of project committee meetings, financial control and reporting of partners working within the Project Operations Group.
WP2 - MONITORING
this section encompasses all activities pertaining to project control, which is divided into several phases: execution process (the set of activities to ensure the implementation of what is planned in the project); the control and monitoring process; risk analysis and mitigation methods.
WP3 - PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
TASK 1. Selection of the best strains of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB).
(a) Conducting growth chamber to identify PGPB strains (biofertilizers) for use in field trials. The experimental scheme will be completely randomized: 2 varieties x 8 PGPB strains x 4 replications = 64 theses. The strains used for tanning will be selected from native strains already identified by our research group. b) Chemical and physical analysis of the soil: texture, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, total N, assimilable P, organic matter. c) Laboratory analysis: P content, N and plant dry weight.
TASK 2. Conducting field trials to optimize nutrient use efficiency (NUE and PUE).
TASK 3. Determination of technological and health quality of grain.
TASK 4. Performance evaluation of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria.
TASK 5. Validation of alternative and sustainable formulations with fungicidal and/or herbicidal action.
TASK 6. Evaluation of effectiveness and persistence of inert powders (diatom powders, zeolites).
TASK 7. Environmental impact assessment.
TASK 8. Economic impact and profitability analysis.
Task 9. Market analysis.
TASK 10. Supply chain analysis.
WP4 - DISCLOSURE
The dissemination of project activities makes it possible to reach both the direct audience interested in the cultivation innovations, carried out by the scientific part, and a broader audience that does not have specific knowledge but may still be interested in learning about the developments and problems of some vegetative species, even as an end consumer. This section includes all activities concerning the dissemination of the project: the choice of the corporate image, communication campaigns, creation of the website and social channels, event management, and the monitoring plan.
The dissemination of project activities makes it possible to reach both the direct audience interested in the cultivation innovations, carried out by the scientific part, and a broader audience that does not have specific knowledge but may still be interested in learning about the developments and problems of some vegetative species, even as an end consumer. This section includes all activities concerning the dissemination of the project: the choice of the corporate image, communication campaigns, creation of the website and social channels, event management, and the monitoring plan.
