Livelihood crisis of farmers: regional perspective from Europe

1. Livelihood crisis of farmers: regional perspective from Europe Federica Rossi

2. Farming is a priority- Eu 27: rural areas account for 92% of the territory - 19% of the population. Density: 38 inhab/km2 (632 in urban areas) Per-capita income : ¼ lower than the average. Income went down (-12%) in 2009. UE 15: -11.5%, new Countries – 16.5% Vegetable production was -13%, animal -10%.

3. EU agricultural policy is constantly evolving. 50 yrs ago, it was on providing enough food for a population emerging from a war. Now, it aims to increase productivity-and quality- of production, while making farmers more environmental friendly. New needs: promotion of international competivity, innovation in farming and food processing, rural development. Key challenges: global competition, meeting consumer demand, facing environment, energy and climate urgencies.

4. A common growth A common objective- a shared concern Different grounds in a shared background Facing environmental issues and climate hazards are common problems

5. Europe 2020 - A trio of interlinked priorities New sources for new growth: Knowledge, innovation, brains rather then brawn, investments on R&D. Reaching out for a sustainable society: workforce, flexibility that makes this possible. Lifelong learning –Reduce poverty. Going green for a competitive economy: progress does not come at the expense of the environment. Sustainability and quality of life also offer opportunities for new jobs, requiring new skills. Europe has the chance to be a leader here, becoming the reference point for expertise in green technologies. Environmentally sustainable economic growth can be measured by increased productivity, matched by a reduction in emissions so as to fight climate change, and an increase in the proportion of energy coming from renewable sources.

6. Europe 2020: a new economic strategy: Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth The concept of sustainability encompasses ecological, economic and social problems

7. … May I be useful? Probably yes Networks including “developers” and “users” are a way to support decision-making processes in agriculture, and to contribute to the organization of dynamic processes of innovation

8. End-user Transfer of the scientific knowledge to operational applications Ricerca Agrometeorological information, use of resources

9. inputoutput Policy: ensure that farming and preservation of environment go together, agriculture is in a much wider context The EU multi-functional agriculture captures, transfers, looses energy and matter producing dry biomass … and more

10. inputoutput The agricultural system SUSTAINABLE Innovation embedded into production system, harmonic with current resources and society expectances Increase the value Reduce and optimize Higher efficiency ratio

11. Integrate the knowledge on each of them to address the needs of small-scale farmers Climate resource Water resource Genetic resource Energy resource Landscape resource Economic resources Human-cultural resources ICT resources

12. The sustainability chain must necessarly consider biological-agronomic-environmental aspects: Genetic Management: optimization of energy and matter flows Environment: climate, soil, topography output inputs

13. output inputs The sustainability chain must also includethe socio-economic aspects: Economic value (profit for the farmer, involved stakeholders) Environmental value (short mileage, local food consumption) Nutritional value (high quality, safety) Consumer perception

14. inputoutput The value of the output: instrinsic nutritional value, consumer acceptance, quality, link with territory

15. Proven characteristics resulting solely from the terrain and the local abilities : geograhic indications and traditional products Agricolture and territory : to look for and guarantee the binomium environment-quality

16. Agrometeorology Ecophysiology Resources utilization Growth dynamics Quality in the field Consumer Test Sensorial analysis VOCs, Aroma GCO – Gascromatography Olfactometry Biochemistry GC, GC-MS, HPLC The quality is an issue for farmers

17. What is quality in a traditional product: Abate Fetel Rootstock, harvest time Field management Time of consuming

19. result of many interacting elements

20. Agroclimatic characterization and zoning may improve the effectiveness of decisions and actions Genotype selected to couple with the local environment Proper environment : climate,soil, topography output inputs

21. Publius Vergilius Maro - Georgicae 37 - 30 B.C. ..the attitude of various species to grow or grow better in certain territories is not a new concept…..

22. …An unknown surface,heed we to forelearn the winds and varying temper of the sky, the lineal tillage and habits of the spot, what every region yields, and what denies. Here blithelier springs the corn, and here the grape, there earth is green with tender growth of trees and grass unbidden. See how from Tmolus comes the saffron's fragrance, ivory from Ind, from Saba's weakling sons their frankincense, iron from the naked Chalybs, castor rank From Pontus, from Epirus the prize-palms. And such the laws by Nature's hand imposed on clime and clime….

23. RA RX T0m TC + RS models GIS TS + Earth observation q(z,t) v(x,y,t) New technologies open perspectives in management of territorial resources.

24. TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT ON: Crop protection Crop production Crop quality Damages from frost 300 M Euros 38% Gross Production Value Awareness of the risk: passive-active protection

25. Conjugating sustainable land use, rural development and quality agriculture, based on valorization of typical, local product: the example of OLIVE in Emilia Romagna.

26. In Italy, the olive area is mostly in the Mediterranean zone and in some part of the Transitional zone. • In Emilia Romagna, 5000 ha surface, 800 t oil (0.2% italian production) • 2 Protected Designations of Origin: • PDO “Brisighella” • PDO “Colline di Romagna”

27. Mainly -65%- grown in hilly areas, marginal for other crops, and is an important element to avoid - the abandoning, with negative social, economic, work repercussions to local communities, -hydrogeological hazards and hill erosions to allow - an increased value of the landscape (monetary, productive, social aspects) - the production of high-quality PDO oil, adding valueto both local territory and regional farming

28. Winter extreme frosts may cause severe damages to plants (critical t = -9°C). For a successful production, past and present must combine.The

29. The crop valorization through a conjugation of past and present support tools. Use of autochotonous germoplasm. New technologies:agroclimatic characterization to define the areas more liable to its cultivation

30. Centenary trees located, tested according to phytosanitary rules, propagated (mother plants) and maintained as reservoir in screen houses. Morphological characterization DNA analyses AFLP markers (Amplified Fragment Lenght Polymorphism) SSR (microsatellites)

31. The past: centenary trees as mother-plants (autochotonous frost resistant) I have been living here for so many decades…..and I am still surviving !!!! + The centenary trees as bioindicatorsof local favourable climatic-micrometeorological conditions, and are georefenced inside GIS maps. The present: agroclimatic characterization to define the more suitable areas for its cultivation Biodiversity and agrometeorological tools are the basis for the cultivation of this crop

32. Localization of old trees Definition of their locations: climate, elevation, slope, soil… Analysis of the local conditions Selection of areas with similar characteristics Analysis of limiting/favourable factors Maps of new potential areasZoning maps available on demand via web mapserver to allow policy makers, technicians, farmers to access the information.

33. Agriculture and water resources

34. DROUGHT: many European areas threatened by shortening of water resources

35. Meteo data Crop parameters Soil data base Free-of-charge web and sms-based service for irrigation assistance. How to reduce the water input???? ICT-based technical support to irrigation management and water optimization ! !

36. Site-specific information provided by micrometeorological technology to assess water requirements: Measured crop evapotraspiration provides calculation of proper Kc, allowing to give new indication to irrigation schedule programs, able to save up to 20% water

37. No-food agriculture: energy and fibre crops

38. NO FOOD BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION: Hemp-lime building materials, Straw building materials, Insulation, Paints, varnishes (wool, hemp, wheat, linseed, flax, bamboo, …) FIBER:Paper, cloth, fabric, padding, string, twine, and rope (cotton, flax, hemp, manila hemp, papyrus, sisal, …) PHARMACEUTICALS:Drugs, botanical and herbal medicines, nutritional supplements, plant-made pharmaceuticals (hemp, echinacea, artemisia, tobacco, …) RENEWABLE BIOPOLYMERS: Plastics and packaging (Wheat, maize, potatoes, …) SPECIALTY CHEMICALS : Essential oils, printing ink, paper coatings (Lavender, oilseed rape, linseed, hemp, …) ENERGY CROPS FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOENERGY:Bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, syngas, bioelectricity (Algae, Jatropha, Switchgrass, …) Importance has increased due to the need to develop bio-based materials for industry and renewable energy … meet environmental objectives such as fight vs. climate change.

39. RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN EU 3 Challenges for RENEWABLE energy Climate Change -- Security of Supply -- Competitive EU Economy EU Energy policy aims for sustainable, secure and affordable energy supply The promotion of renewable energies goes back to 1997 White paper on Renewable Energies. Several other directives, strategic papers and action plans have been issued setting targets by 2010. The white paper set the target of doubling the contribution of Renewable Energy Sources from 6 to 12% in 2010. The green electricity directive (2001) set a target of reaching 21% share of renewable electricity by 2010. The biofuels directive (2003) set indicative targets of 5.75% market shares for biofuels respectively for the year 2010. The biomass action plan and biofuels strategy (2005 and 2006) were aimed at the promotion of bioenergy and biofuels.

40. RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN EU 3 Challenges for RENEWABLE energy Climate Change -- Security of Supply -- Competitive EU Economy Potentialities of ENERGY CROPS Climate Change: integrating/ substituting fossil fuels then assist in reducing carbon emissions. Natural Resource Protection: increase biodiversity in wide farmed landscape for food production. Use of set-aside and marginal lands. Sustainable Rural Communities: new business opportunities in rural areas for agriculture, providing additional diversity and innovation

41. Residues - new biomass souces - dedicated crops Sugar beet, cereals ... Fibre sorghum Sweet sorghum Sunflower Kenaf Hemp Rapeseed Annual Oil crops Carbohydrates crops Ligno-cellulosic crops Short Rotation Forestry fast-growing trees Poli-annual Arundo Switchgrass Cardoon Miscanthus Eucalyptus, Poplar, Willow, ... Ligno-cellulosic crops

42. Main energetic destinations Fuel, transport Sugar beet (Carboidrates) Ethanol Diesel Electicity Rapeseed (Oil) Heat OIL Ligno-cellulosic material O2 Pyrolysis Gasification H2 GAS Combustion from crops and wood

43. Principles from the EU policy about the “suitable studies of land” Environmental sustainability criteriafor BIOFUELS: nolands with recognised high biodiversity value,-- lands with high carbon stock, National actions and targets study local resources, technologies suited to different regional conditions Are lands available? Avoid food-fuel land use competition SUSTAINABLE land planning is a priority Land suitability

44. Land suitability for biomass dedicated crop cultivation- is a support decision tool for local government, decision maker, etc Crop selection Land suitability Land availability Land assignment Transformation Plant location Define optimum pedo-climatic requirements for sustainable yield and crop management What is the actual land use ? Which lands are really available ? Where to locate energy production plant ? Matching of species optimum land with actual land use ? Define lands that match crop pedo-climatic requirements Pedo - Climatic characterization of the region

45. Rivers Building Roads Altimetry Real world Largely used in Europe for Yield prediction, Determination of risky areas, Zoning, Land use policies etc. Allow data integration, usability, spatial analysis, statistics.. TECHNOLOGIES: G.I.S. GIS are used for deriving and enhancing point weather data by the use of DEMs (Digital Elevation Models), or alternatively used as a spatial input dataset to provide boundary conditions

46. Database application to characterize the Spanish agrarian countries with respect to their productivity potential of crops J. Sánchez Dpt. Producción Vegetal: Botánica y Protección Vegetal. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

48. Energy crops potential distribution and estimated yield at NUTs scale

49. Expert systems and GIS: an application of land suitability evaluation S. Kalogirou . Department of Geography, University of Newcastle, Daysh Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK A software containing physical evaluation of the land (data for 17 land types) and models for general cultivation for five (wheat, barley, maize, seed cotton, sugar beet) specific crops The software does not require special computer skills and may support rural planners with a first view of the land suitability for cultivation of certain crops.

50. Environmental impact in the suitability study How the cultivation of energy crop will affect the environment ? Agronomic management to obtain sustainable yield: Use of minerals Use of water resources Use of fossil fuel Use of chemicals Effects on Soil erosion ... Map soil texture Map of water table depth Damages: Emission of minerals Water quality (Eutrophication) Water depletion CO2 emission Chemicals emission Soil depletion ... All quantified by LCA. Map of Climate (wind, ..) Map of land morphology Map of Environmental Impact Indicators LCA Technology Translates complexity into pragmatic answers…