CON.CER farmer network on organic production, Italy

The aim of the CON.CER farmer network is to evaluate novel crop genotypes and management combinations (stale seed bed, spring tine weeding and relay intercropping) to promote organic production of durum wheat and leguminous.

CON.CER provides on-farm data collection and agronomic-environmental impact assessments for single crops and rotations in order to select the best practices and spread them among local farmers.

The farmers can test novel genotypes and agronomic combinations on scale in comparison with farmer’s standard practices.

The network represents a group of farmers involved in the organic agriculture system. They operate in one region of Italy and are looking for increased yields with fewer inputs, as a result of innovative cropping systems.

Over the course of the SolACE project, 5 organic farms participated in on-farm trials in Italy, with 4 farms participating in all trial years (2018-2021). Annual farmer workshops took place to define the objectives of the field activities and monitor progress, as well as on-farm meetings with the agronomic team at CON.CER to identify problems and solutions. The farmers in Italy trialed durum wheat genotype mixtures with legume pre-crops as well as microbial seed dressings and alternative tillage and weed management strategies for organic systems.