Workshops on regenerative practices in Italy, Spain and Tunisia

Farms4Climate partners from Italy, Spain, and Tunisia recently organised a series of workshops and technical days aimed at disseminating the ideas and practices behind regenerative agriculture, while sharing the project's results and fostering partnerships and collaborations among different stakeholders.  

Professors Bartolomeo Dichio and Cristos Xiloyannis from the University of Basilicata, with support from Agreenment, organised recently two technical days dedicated to the application of regenerative farming in kiwifruit –one in the Calabria region's Living Lab area and the other at Agrion Foundation in the Piemonte region. The events, which had a total turnout of more than 250 participants, focused on crucial sustainability issues, examining factors such as soil fertility and structure, irrigation management, and the implementation of regenerative practices aimed at enhancing soil organic carbon and providing agro-ecosystem services.

The workshops showcased the impactful activities of the Farms4Climate (F4C) Project, presenting results from the pilot sites as an exemplary model of the carbon farming approach within the Eco Fruit Living Lab framework. Conducted within the Italian Society for Horticultural Science (SOI) Actinidia working group, the events sought to highlight the importance of sustainability in kiwifruit production, raising awareness among stakeholders and encouraging collaborations and greater engagement in regenerative practices and carbon farming within the broader agro-food community. In particular, by showcasing innovative irrigation techniques, the technical days aimed at promoting more efficient water use, reducing water wastage and enhancing crop yields. Additionally, adopting practices targeted at increasing soil organic carbon will improve soil structure and fertility, leading to more sustainable and productive farming systems.

In addition, around 35 farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders participated in late April in the Green Cover, Regenerative Agriculture and Machinery Bank Exhibition Workshop at the La Almendrehesa farm of the AlVelAl association in Southern Spain. The event, organised by the Aland Foundation, aimed to immerse participants in the concepts of regenerative agriculture and demonstrate the agricultural techniques implemented in the field. Participants explored the benefits of green manures for the soil and witnessed firsthand the operation of two machines from the AlVelAl Shared Machinery Bank, observing the differences in their effects on the soil.

Finally, the National Institute for Research in Rural Engineering, Water and Forests (INRGREF) from Tunisia organised a workshop at the Djebba Living Lab, where around a hundred participants from different sectors expressed their initiatives for regional development and signed a partnership agreement for the conservation and development of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS, SIPAM "Système Ingenieux du Patrimoine Agricole Mondial") of Djebba. The goal is to contribute to the construction of a water basin to improve water use efficiency and enhance the development of regenerative agricultural practices, thus supporting ecosystems and carbon farming. Additionally, a collection of all the genetic resources of the fig tree in the region will be created with the involvement of students from the primary school of Djebba, encouraging their participation in preserving the region's potential.