The project activity stems from the need of organic grain farmers to have, in a short time and in an efficient manner, a multi-factorial strategy to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on the productive and qualitative performance of einkorn and emmer farro. These are, in fact, the 2 autumn-winter cereals most cultivated in inland areas and within organic production systems by virtue of their characteristics of marked rusticity and adaptability. This has made it possible to produce value (unit income) even within extensive production systems characterized by poor agronomic quality of the soils (physico-chemical characteristics, topography) and by a microclimate that is not always favorable. The two farro species of interest are therefore able to valorize peripheral agro-ecosystems where productive alternatives are scarce, while the ecosystem role played by agriculture in these areas is strategic for the entire regional community. Given the state of the art regarding the knowledge of the 2 species and the analysis of the weather-climatic dynamics of the last 10 years in Tuscany, it has emerged, in fact, that phenomena capable of depressing the unit yield of these crops are already underway, both from a quantitative and qualitative point of view.
This refers in particular to: 1) the rise in average temperatures during the autumn-winter period and 2) a different distribution of rainfall events per year and intra-period compared to the ex-ante phase. Both phenomena act negatively on the productivity of these cereals as, on one hand, they counteract the cold requirements of the two species which need vernalization for flower induction and, on the other hand, they increase the pressure of adverse biotic agents during the germination/emergence and seedling development phase with negative repercussions on the final yield. The planned activity therefore involves the testing of innovative treatments on einkorn and emmer farro seeds. Concurrently, a selection activity of varieties already available within the territory will be launched to identify the most resilient ones. The OG also provides for the genomic and proteomic characterization of the most resilient varieties to highlight their specificities and undertake a further valorization action. The objectives of the project as a whole concern the validation of a multi-factorial strategy capable of maintaining satisfactory levels of productivity and profitability of the farro supply chain. The 2 species involved in SvernalFAr! have spread so widely across our territories because, over the years, they have shown a marked capacity to adapt to biotic and abiotic stresses and high rusticity. The effects of climate change are, however, faster than their intrinsic adaptive capacities and there is, therefore, a strong demand from Tuscan grain growers to have easy, economic and promptly applicable answers to continue producing good quality cereals in a sustainable way.
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