Livelihood crisis of farmers: regional perspective from Europe Federica Rossi.

Livelihood crisis of farmers: regional perspective from Europe

Federica Rossi

Farming is a priority- Eu 27: rural areas account for 92% of the territory - 19% of the population. Density: 38 inhab/km2 (632 in urban areas)Per-capita income : ¼ lower than the average. Income went down (-12%) in 2009. UE 15: -11.5%, new Countries – 16.5% Vegetable production was -13%, animal -10%.

50 yrs ago, it was on providing enough food for a population emerging from a war.

Now, it aims to increase productivity-and quality- of production, while making farmers more environmental friendly.

New needs: promotion of international competivity, innovation in farming and food processing,rural development.

Key challenges: global competition, meeting consumer demand, facing environment, energy and climate urgencies.

EU agricultural policy is constantly evolving.EU agricultural policy is constantly evolving.

A common growthA common objective- a shared concern

Different grounds in a shared background

Facing environmental issues and climate hazards are common problems

Europe 2020 - A trio of interlinked prioritiesNew sources for new growth: Knowledge, innovation, brains rather then brawn, investments on R&D.

Reaching out for a sustainable society: workforce, flexibility that makes this possible. Lifelong learning –Reduce poverty.

Going green for a competitive economy: progress does not come at the expense of the environment. Sustainability and quality of life also offer opportunities for new jobs, requiring new skills. Europe has the chance to be a leader here, becoming the reference point for expertise in green technologies.Environmentally sustainable economic growth can be measured by increased productivity, matched by a reduction in emissions so as to fight climate change, and an increase in the proportion of energy coming from renewable sources.

Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

Europe 2020: a new economic strategy:

The concept of sustainability encompasses ecological, economicand social problems

Networks including “developers” and “users” are a way to support decision-making processes in agriculture, and to contribute to the organization of dynamic processes of innovation

Probably yes

… May I be

useful?

Ricerca

End-user

Transfer of the scientific knowledge to operational applications

Agrometeorological information, use of resources

captures, transfers, looses energy and matter producing dry biomass … and more

The EU multi-functional agriculture

input output

Policy: ensure that farming and preservation of environment go together, agriculture is in a much wider context

SUSTAINABLE

The agricultural system

input output

Reduce and optimize

Increase the value

Higher Higher efficiency efficiency ratioratio

Innovation embedded into production system, harmonic with current resources and society expectances

Climate resource

Energy resource

Water resource Genetic resource

Human-cultural resources Economic resources Landscape resource

Integrate the knowledge on each of them to address the needs of small-scale farmers

ICT resources

output

The sustainability chain must necessarly consider biological-agronomic-environmental aspects:

inputs

Management: optimization of energy and matter flows

Environment: climate, soil, topography

GeneticGenetic

The sustainability chain must also include the socio-economic aspects:

output inputs

Economic value (profit for the farmer, involved stakeholders)

Environmental value (short mileage, local food consumption)

Nutritional value (high quality, safety)

Consumer perception

instrinsic nutritional value, consumer acceptance, quality, link with territory

The value of the output:

input output

Agricolture and Agricolture and territory : to look for territory : to look for and guarantee the and guarantee the

binomium environment-binomium environment-qualityquality

Proven characteristics resulting solely from the terrain and the local abilities : geograhic indications and traditional products

Sensorial analysis Consumer Test

Biochemistry GC, GC-MS, HPLC

VOCs, Aroma

GCO – Gascromatography Olfactometry

AgrometeorologyEcophysiology Resources utilization Growth dynamicsQuality in the field

The quality is an issue for farmers

Profili sensoriali di Abate Fetel

-1

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6SUCC

DOLC

ACID

AROM

GRANUL

CONS

ASTR

GRAD

BA29 Cotogno C F69Autoradicato A Autoradicato M

Field management

Rootstock, harvest time

Time of consuming

What is quality in a traditional What is quality in a traditional product: Abate Fetelproduct: Abate Fetel

result of many interacting elements

output

Agroclimatic characterization and zoning may improve the effectiveness of decisions and actions

inputs

Proper environment : climate,soil, topography

Genotype selected to coupleGenotype selected to couple

with the local environmentwith the local environment

37 - 30 B.C.

Publius Vergilius Maro - Georgicae

..the attitude of various species to grow or grow better in certain territories is not a new concept…..

…An unknown surface,heed we to forelearn the winds and varying temper of the sky, the lineal tillage and habits of the spot, what every region yields, and what denies. Here blithelier springs the corn, and here the grape, there earth is green with tender growth of trees and grass unbidden. See how from Tmolus comes the saffron's fragrance, ivory from Ind, from Saba's weakling sons their frankincense, iron from the naked Chalybs, castor rank From Pontus, from Epirus the prize-palms. And such the laws by Nature's hand imposed on clime and clime….

New technologies open perspectives in management of territorial resources.

GIS

RSRS

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C

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models+Earth observation

+

Crop protection

Crop production

Crop quality

TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT ON:

Damages from frost 300 M Euros38% Gross Production Value

Awareness of the risk: passive-active protection

Conjugating sustainable land use, rural development and quality agriculture, based on valorization of typical, local product:

the example of the example of OLIVE in Emilia RomagnaOLIVE in Emilia Romagna..

In Italy, the olive area is mostly in the Mediterranean zone In Italy, the olive area is mostly in the Mediterranean zone and in some part of the Transitional zone.and in some part of the Transitional zone.

In Emilia Romagna, 5000 ha surface, 800 t oil (0.2% italian production)

2 Protected Designations of Origin :

•PDO “Brisighella”

•PDO “Colline di Romagna”

Nostrana di Brisighella

0

1

2

3

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8Olf.Fruity

Olive Fresh Leaf

Grass

Fresh Almond

Artichoke

Tomato

BerriesAromatic Herbs

Apple

Gus.Fruity

Bitter

Pungent

Fluidity

Mainly -65%- grown in hilly areas, marginal for other crops, and is an important element

to avoid

- the abandoning, with negative social, economic, work repercussions to local communities, -hydrogeological hazards and hill erosions

to allow

- an increased value of the landscape (monetary, productive, social aspects)- the production of high-quality PDO oil, adding value to both local territory and regional farming

For a successful production, past and present must combine.

The

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Date

Tem

per

atu

re (

°C)

Min.

Mean

Max

Winter extreme frosts may cause severe damages to plants (critical t = -9°C).

The crop valorization through a conjugation of past and present support tools.

Use of autochotonous germoplasm.

New technologies: agroclimatic characterization to define the areas more liable to its cultivation

Centenary trees located, tested according to phytosanitary rules, propagated (mother plants) and

maintained as reservoir in screen houses.

Morphological characterization

DNA analyses

AFLP markers (Amplified Fragment Lenght Polymorphism) SSR

(microsatellites)

+

The past: centenary trees as mother-plants (autochotonous frost resistant)

The present: agroclimatic characterization to define the more suitable areas for its cultivation

The centenary trees as bioindicators of local favourable climatic-micrometeorological conditions, and are georefenced inside GIS maps.

I have been living here for so many decades…..and I

am still surviving !!!!

Biodiversity and agrometeorological tools are the basis for the cultivation of this crop

Localization of old trees

Definition of their locations:climate, elevation, slope, soil…

Selection of areas with similar characteristics

Analysis of limiting/favourable factors

Maps of new potential areas Zoning maps available on demand via web mapserver to allow policy makers, technicians, farmers to access the information.

Analysis of the local conditions

Agriculture and water Agriculture and water resourcesresources

DROUGHT: many European areas threatened by shortening of water resources

How to reduce the water input????

ICT-based technical support to irrigation

management and water optimization

Free-of-charge web and sms-based service for irrigation assistance.

!

!

Meteo data Soil data base

Crop parameters

c

w

0.710.78

0.98

0.84 0.81 0.77

0.910.85

0.70

0.86

1.00

1.251.25

1.171.16

0.82

0.800.82

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Maggio Giugno Luglio Agosto Settembre Ottobre

Kc

Kc Hargreaves Kc IRRINET Kc Ibimet

Site-specific information provided by micrometeorological technology to assess water requirements:

Measured crop evapotraspiration provides calculation of proper Kc, allowing to give new indication to irrigation schedule programs, able to save up to 20% water

No-food agriculture: energy and fibre crops

NO FOOD

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION : Hemp-lime building materials, Straw building materials, Insulation, Paints, varnishes (wool, hemp, wheat, linseed, flax, bamboo, …)

FIBER: Paper, cloth, fabric, padding, string, twine, and rope (cotton, flax, hemp, manila hemp, papyrus, sisal, …)

PHARMACEUTICALS: Drugs, botanical and herbal medicines, nutritional supplements, plant-made pharmaceuticals (hemp, echinacea, artemisia, tobacco, …)

RENEWABLE BIOPOLYMERS : Plastics and packaging (Wheat, maize, potatoes, …)

SPECIALTY CHEMICALS : Essential oils, printing ink, paper coatings (Lavender, oilseed rape, linseed, hemp, …)

ENERGY CROPS FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOENERGY: Bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, syngas, bioelectricity (Algae, Jatropha, Switchgrass, …)

Importance has increased dueto the need to develop

bio-based materials for industry and

renewable energy

… meet environmental objectives such as fight vs. climate change.

RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN EURENEWABLE ENERGIES IN EU

3 Challenges for RENEWABLE energyClimate Change -- Security of Supply -- Competitive EU Economy

EU Energy policy aims for EU Energy policy aims for sustainablesustainable, , securesecure and and affordableaffordable energy supply energy supply

EU Energy policy aims for EU Energy policy aims for sustainablesustainable, , securesecure and and affordableaffordable energy supply energy supply

The promotion of renewable energies goes back to 1997 White paper on Renewable White paper on Renewable EnergiesEnergies. Several other directives, strategic papers and action plans have been issued setting targets by 2010.

The white paperwhite paper set the target of doubling the contribution of Renewable Energy Sources from 6 to 12% in 2010.

The green electricity directivegreen electricity directive (2001) set a target of reaching 21% share of renewable electricity by 2010.

The biofuels directivebiofuels directive (2003) set indicative targets of 5.75% market shares for biofuels respectively for the year 2010.

The biomass action planbiomass action plan and biofuels strategybiofuels strategy (2005 and 2006) were aimed at the promotion of bioenergy and biofuels.

Potentialities of ENERGY CROPS

Natural Resource Protection: increase biodiversity in wide farmed landscape for food production. Use of set-aside and marginal lands.

Sustainable Rural Communities: new business opportunities in rural areas for agriculture, providing additional diversity and innovation

Climate Change: integrating/ substituting fossil fuels then assist in reducing carbon emissions.

RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN EURENEWABLE ENERGIES IN EU

3 Challenges for RENEWABLE energyClimate Change -- Security of Supply -- Competitive EU Economy

Annual

Rapeseed SunflowerSugar beet, cereals ...

Fibre sorghumSweet sorghum Kenaf Hemp

Oil crops Carbohydrates crops Ligno-cellulosic crops

Poli-annual

Switchgrass CardoonArundo

Miscanthus

Short Rotation Forestry

fast-growing trees

Eucalyptus, Poplar, Willow, ...

Ligno-cellulosic crops

Residues - new biomass souces - dedicated crops

Ligno-cellulosic material

Main energetic destinations Fuel,

transport

H2

Electicity

Sugar beet(Carboidrates)

Rapeseed (Oil)

Heat

Ethanol

Diesel

Pyrolysis

Gasification

Combustion

OIL

GASO2

from crops and wood

Principles from the EU policyPrinciples from the EU policyabout the “suitable studies of land”about the “suitable studies of land”

Environmental sustainability criteriaEnvironmental sustainability criteria for BIOFUELSfor BIOFUELS: no lands with recognised high biodiversity value,-- lands with high carbon stock,

National actions and targets study local resources, technologies suited to different regional conditions

Are lands available?

Avoid food-fuel land use competition

Land suitability

SUSTAINABLEland planning is a priority

Land suitability for biomass dedicated crop cultivation- is a support decision tool for local government, decision maker, etc

Crop selection

Land suitability

Land availability

Land assignment

Transformation Plant location

Defineoptimum

pedo-climatic requirements

for sustainable yield and crop management

Define lands that match crop

pedo-climatic requirements

What is the actual land use ?

Which lands are really available ?

Matching of species optimum land

with actual land use ?

Where to locate energy production

plant ?

Pedo - Climatic characterization of the regionPedo - Climatic characterization of the region

TECHNOLOGIES:Largely used in Europe for Yield prediction, Determination of risky areas, Zoning, Land use policies etc.Allow data integration, usability, spatial analysis, statistics..

G.I.S.

Real world

Altimetry

Roads

Building

Rivers

GIS are used for deriving and enhancing point weather data by the use of DEMs (Digital Elevation Models), or alternatively

used as a spatial input dataset to provide boundary conditions

Database application to characterize the Spanish agrarian countries with respect to their productivity potential of crops

J. Sánchez Dpt. Producción Vegetal: Botánica y Protección Vegetal. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Energy crops potential distribution and estimated yield at NUTs scale

Expert systems and GIS: an application of land suitability evaluation

S. Kalogirou . Department of Geography, University of Newcastle, Daysh Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK

A software containing physical evaluation of the land (data for 17 land types) and models for general cultivation for five (wheat, barley, maize, seed cotton, sugar beet) specific crops

The software does not require special computer skills and may support rural planners with a first view of the land suitability for cultivation of certain crops.

Environmental impact in the suitability study

How the cultivation of energy crop will affect the environment ?

Agronomic management to obtain sustainable yield:

Use of mineralsUse of water resources

Use of fossil fuelUse of chemicals

Effects on Soil erosion ...Damages:

Emission of mineralsWater quality (Eutrophication)

Water depletionCO2 emission

Chemicals emissionSoil depletion ...

All quantified by LCA.

Map soil texture

Map of water table depth

Map of land

morphology

Map of Climate(wind, ..)

Map of Environmental Impact

Indicators

LCA Technology Translates complexity into pragmatic answers…

Mais Colza Frumento

Girasole Sorgo F Arundo

Cardo Miscanto Panico

EX: Crop impact on eutrophication of vulnerable lands

low

medium

high

extr. high

White areas: no impact

maize rapeseed wheat

sunflower F Sorghum Arundo

cardoon miscanthus switchgrass

Life Cycle Assessment >>>

Central and Eastern Europe Climate Change Impact and Vulnerability Assessment

Agroclimatic indices and simulation models review, evaluation of the current trends of agroclimatic indices and simulation model outputs; developing and assessing future regional and local scenarios of agroclimatic conditions; risk assessment and foreseen impacts on agriculture. Based on these results, possible actions (recommendations, suggestions, warning systems) will be elaborated and proposed to the end-users, depending on their needs.

Broad band Internet for multi-functional agriculture

output

To know what’s up. To network. To sell, to know prices. To check weather forecast. To receive agromet information ….

Steps possible by ICTSteps possible by ICT

DatabasesDatabases Monitoring Monitoring networksnetworks

Forecast Forecast modelsmodels

Current Current weather weather

datadata

Historical Historical weather weather

datadata

Weather Weather forecastsforecasts

ClimatologyClimatology

BasicBasic instrumentsinstruments

Basic Basic informationinformation

ss

ProcessedProcessedinformationsinformations

Plant-Plant-weather-soil weather-soil

modelsmodels

Land Land vocationvocation

Crop advices Crop advices to farmers -to farmers -

Agro-Agro-phenologicaphenological forecastsl forecasts

Crop advices Crop advices to farmers -to farmers -

Land Land managementmanagement

End-user End-user informationsinformations

Policy makers – Joint coordinated, action development

Support to farmers skill, knowledge, networking -technology transfer- best practices

Research, new technology

Approaches to address the livelihood crisis of farmers: valorization of the territory, efficient use of its resources, enhancement of the innovation capacity of communities (traditional knowledge for innovative practical solutions), adoption of best technologies. Awareness of climate impacts, mitigation and adaptation. Promotion of efficient land management, smart use of weather, climate and water information.

Thank youThank you