Research areas:
Agronomy and field, vegetable, ornamental crops
Scientific officer:
Federica Zanetti
Duration:
01/12/2021 - 30/11/2024
Research groups:
Federica Zanetti
Andrea Monti
Elena Pagani
At present, European farming systems mostly rely on monocropping which is particularly susceptible to climate change and sustained by high agronomic inputs. Research demonstrated clear benefit evidence from crop diversification at soil and ecosystem level, which leads to enhanced water and nutrient use efficiency, and increased biodiversity (above- and belowground) and system resilience. In organic farming is even more vital to take advantages from plant-based functional biodiversity to achieve sustained yield and consequent farmers’ profit. The SCOOP project is focused on innovative and diversified organic intercropping systems aimed at preserving ecosystem and agricultural land integrity, biodiversity, and food/feed security. The new intercrops will be based on camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz), a native European multi-purpose oilseed crop, with large environmental suitability and highly adaptable to organic farming, and locally selected underutilized crops. The companion crop (e.g. pulses, pseudo-cereals, ancient cereals etc.) will be identified locally in the living labs created at hoc which will gather local stakeholders, farmers, breeders, scientist, food processors, considering their needs, expectations, traditional food uses, and the most representative organic farming systems. SCOOP intercropping will be grown in four different European pedo-climates in Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, and Turkey. SCOOP intercrops will be a win-win solution allowing: i) early soil coverage, enhancing the efficient use of natural resources (e.g. water), preventing N-leaching and soil erosion; ii) reduction of inputs for pest and disease control due to a higher competitive advantage over weeds and diseases of diversified cropping systems; iii) promotion of seed quality; iv) new market opportunities. The SCOOP consortium follows a multi-actor approach with 4 partners from the R&D and 2 representing the productive/consumers’ world, with the aim of maximizing the result impact.