Banca dati dei progetti dei PSR

Cooperation between the research sector and farmers to tackle challenges for the agricultural sector led to innovation, diversification and knowledge transfer in Umbria, encapsulated in the rollout of “fresh and ready-to-eat” fruits and vegetables.

A consortium composed of the University of Tuscia, Novamont – Research and innovation centre in agriculture – and three farms (Azienda Agricola Luca Treppaoli, Azienda Agraria Il Poggiolo, Azienda Agraria Pizzi Giorgiomaria) was formed to address the need for innovative solutions to the regional farms' struggle to survive in a more and more competitive market environment.

Specific objectives of the project were to: i) diversify the main farms’ activities to start producing “fresh and ready-to-eat” fruits and vegetables; ii) create new market opportunities, mainly targeting big supermarkets; iii) introduce innovative and “environmental friendly” packaging solutions. Improving farms' viability was the main general objective of the project.

The main activities of the project are: designing process and product innovations (implemented by the research partners) and testing them in the farms. The innovative processes mainly aimed at keeping the freshness of products for longer, increasing their “shelf-life”; on the product front, special “environmentally friendly” packaging was developed. A special effort was undertaken to find new markets for these products, with particular attention to big supermarkets.

Thanks to the project the farmers diversified their outputs, introduced new quality products, found new market opportunities and increased the profits of farm activities. They also became part of the regional short supply-chain, enhanced their skills, improved their farming practises, and contributed to spreading innovation. The cooperation between the entrepreneurs, the university and the technological district set up a platform for interactive and innovative entrepreneurial behaviours.

Research is important to support innovation and cooperation with farmers helped transferring knowledge and making synergies between different investments. Farmers’ participation was crucial to assess the needs for innovation, test the proposed solutions, demonstrate the results to others and boost interesting emulative behaviours along the supply-chain. Lack of credit, limitations on eligible costs and advance payment restrictions are issues to be tackled.

San Venanzo, Montecastello di Vibio, Todi

Umbria

Umbria

499 400

392 372

107 028

https://www.parco3a.org/

Luciano Concezzi

lconcezzi@parco3a.org

+39 0758957209

English, Italian