13 ottobre 2022
Il primo viaggio di lavoro ad American Farm in Grecia (AFARM) si è svolto dal 9 al 12 ottobre 2022, durante il quale il coordinatore del progetto, Antonio Scialletti, ha potuto incontrare tutti i responsabili di AFARM e la corrispondente entità greca Perrotis College. Durante la visita c’erano molte persone attivamente impegnate nell’insegnamento di varie materie di agricoltura agli studenti: erano più di 800 gli studenti in tutto il campus. Tutti i professori hanno un dottorato di ricerca in agricoltura, con esperienza in diversi progetti LIFE e progetti Horizon per la Comunità europea. Durante i meeting ha potuto condividere e discutere tutte le procedure per i test sul campo (concimazione, campionamento, ecc.) sviluppate da UNIRC. Durante la sua visita, ha potuto ottenere l’analisi dei campioni di terreno e la mappa complessiva con tutte le posizioni dei campioni del terreno dedicato di 12 ha., qui di seguito:
Sotto un breve report in inglese di Antonio Scalletti:
Besides, I received also the analyses of the samples giving evidence of a moderately alkaline soil (pH more than 7) with clay component and clay-loam texture:
1) Date of soil sampling: 22/7/2022 (from UAV-drone image)
2) Soil Maps created by 75 soil samples (~23 ha) & soil analysis (August 2022 – Perrotis College Lab)
3) Soil analysis is only from AFS experimental field (only 12 ha) & soil analysis (September 2022 – Soil and Water Resources Institute / Hellenic Agricultural Organization -Demeter).
I also met all the operating people cultivating the land, and I made clear the procedures with them. During the meeting with the Administrative Dept. of AFARM, I was able to connect by video to the supporting administrative Company Warrant where Ms. Stefania answered many administrative operating questions. The goal for the Administration in AFARM is to develop a Financial Report as of Sept. 30, 2022 to be attached to the Mid-term Report under development. I also confirmed that the durum wheat to be used is CIMETO, same than Puglia, and the harvested durum wheat is owned by AFARM, therefore it could be sold. For this reason, I went to visit the Greek pasta-producer Company: MELISSA. The pasta Company MELISSA is producing 90.000 tons of pasta per year, and it has 40% of market share for pasta in Greece exporting to over 30 Countries worldwide. The durum-wheat purchase manager has the goal to improve the proteins & vitamins of the durum-wheat he buys for the top-line: “Golden Choice”. Therefore, he wishes that the durum-wheat produced in the fieldtest in AFARM with our org-min fertilizer will have a higher quality, specifically a better composition of proteins. Organic product and tracing the organic value-chain seams not so important, yet, in Greece because of the perception that “organic food” is more expensive.
Conclusion:
Overall the business trip to Greece was very interesting and it was possible to reinforce the collaboration as well as the alignment in all the activities related to the Life Project. All the people in AFARM are very experienced and supportive to the Life Project. Next business trip to AFARM will be end of May 2023 or beginning of June 2023 before the harvesting of the durum wheat grown in the test-fields.
