Capraia, a laboratory for agricultural mechanics
The Capraia Smart Island Project, supported by FederUnacoma since its activation in 2017, is progressing. The component "Circular Economy and Sustainable Agriculture", pays attention and resources to the green management of the small Mediterranean Islands. An essential contribution to the affirmation of agroecology can also come from using machines suited to the specifics of the local context
FederUnacoma, among the many activities aimed at supporting initiatives for sustainable development, has for many years been following with particular interest those concerning the Mediterranean small islands. Clearly, in these areas, the focus of the Federation, given both the limited area available for cultivation and the size of the companies operating there, is undoubtedly not on opening up new markets for mechanization. Rather, for these contexts, highly characterized by endemism, biodiversity and beautiful landscapes, the challenge is integrating environmental protection with social welfare. From this standpoint, small islands are like authentic open-air workshops where, using a systemic approach, it is possible - as well as necessary - to put into practice innovative models of a green economy.
To provide a specific example, FederUnacoma has been sponsoring since its launch in 2017 the Capraia Smart Island initiative designed by the Green Chemistry Association Bionet with the support of other partners, including ITABIA - Italian Biomass Association. Currently, Capraia is the only island in the Mediterranean that produces 100% electricity from renewable sources thanks to a pilot plant powered by biodiesel that ENEL implemented in 2014.
With this aspect in mind, indeed not of minor importance, a team of experts has been specifically set up to extend the concept of the smart island to all issues that the island context can convey towards the sustainable development of this handkerchief of land surrounded by the sea.
With this approach, we have been working for six years now to develop a pilot model of circular economy able to self-renew where waste is progressively reduced, leaving space for recyclable material to be enhanced and used in new production processes. A model where energy supply moves away from fossil fuels and towards renewable sources and increasing efficiency, where zero waste and quality of production are part of the plan for the decarbonization of the local economy. Needless to say, with a view to improving the management of all of the resources (from water to waste), the promotion of local agriculture and fishing will play a role of paramount importance. Even if in 2021 the focus of the Capraia Smart Island project was mainly on the highly topical and critical issue of the sustainable fish supply chain, in 2022, we will be back to the topic of agriculture at all levels. This process will occur as part of a partnership with important national players (research and businesses) who believe that the complex agricultural systems of the "minor" islands - often defined as heroic - have a socio-economic and environmental value that must be protected. Islands, as well as mountainous areas, require exceptional care and great dedication.
Therefore, the theme of sustainability must take its cue from ancient traditions (see box) combined with innovation, as was the case for the Pantelleria vine or the Capraia organic vine, all grown on steep slopes made cultivable through terracing which reaches out to the sea. As Professor Luciana Angelini (University of Pisa and Counsellor of Green Chemistry Bionet) states, Capraia looks like an ideal place to practice safeguarding natural biodiversity, with particular reference to a flora rich in endemism and officinal species. It is also an extraordinary opportunity to promote a biodiverse, productive, and resilient agriculture based on the principles of agroecology.
Soil protection and the preservation of its quality as a non-renewable resource are the foundation of any agricultural production process, particularly in such a fragile and challenging territory, affected over time by the decline of traditional farming practices and land improvement measures (e.g., maintenance of dry-stone walls and terraces) crucial to fight erosion, maintain soil fertility and preserve biodiversity. The trend change that is taking place on the island, with the renewed interest in a sustainable and organic type of agriculture, the increased sensitivity towards soil conservation and landscape protection, the recovery of local food systems, are all encouraging signs to be taken into consideration with close attention. Agricultural management in Capraia is highly complex: farming practices are difficult to mechanize, natural water availability is insufficient, the choice of crops and/or animal production is limited by significant environmental and agronomic (many areas are disadvantaged/marginal), economic and land constraints (think of the collective property of civic use).
Among the many virtuous interventions, it would be possible to improve the crop water management through works of the reservoir and/or channeling of rainwater, the pastures exploitation, the enhancement of some local varieties and herbs available on the island, improving the sustainability and efficiency of existing farming systems based on the principles of agroecology (associations, grassing, use of green manure and soil improvers, mulching, choice of local varieties, use of compost and/or digestate, use of natural means of defense against parasites and weeds, etc.).
In short, the basis of any planning - related to PNRR principles - requires a proper overview that considers the various focuses implemented by Capraia Smart Island as they are intertwined. In addition, a careful analysis of past experiences and realities/initiatives already existing in the area is also paramount, following a cultural approach that calls for the ongoing participation of those concerned with the promotion of the territory in different capacities. Agricultural management on the island is even more delicate because of climate changes. Erosive phenomena are strong; terraces need to be recovered and maintained, civic uses of land require a more complex level of participation, etc. Luckily, we are doing an excellent job, such as grassing practices in vineyards or defense actions typical of organic farming.
The decarbonization of the island with a focus on the increase of organic carbon in the soil is the main issue that agriculture can substantially contribute to, particularly considering that Capraia belongs to the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, recently included in the Green List of IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature - the highest world body for parks and natural reserves. The Green List ranks world excellence by certifying the best-protected areas for nature conservation and sustainable management. Only three parks have obtained this recognition in Italy, and Capraia, besides having much to learn, can certainly also tell and give examples. And precisely for this reason that on the occasion of EIMA 2021, the Energy exhibition will schedule a specific workshop devoted to the Capraia Smart Island Project.
Capraia agriculture's historical background
In the history of Capraia, agriculture and fishing have played a significant role in the island's economy, with rich productions of oil, wine, fruits, and vegetables. As early as in the sixteenth century, Capraia's agricultural production was mainly based on the cultivation and production of wine (530 barrels, equal to 3,140 hectoliters). Hence, wine was a precious resource that was mostly traded to the mainland, Genoa, and the Maremma area to get in return wheat and barley to meet local needs. In 1873 the Municipality gave 552 hectares to the Ministry of the Internal Affairs to build a penal colony where inmates served their sentences by working in terraced fields (vineyards, orchards, olive groves and vegetable gardens) with undoubted positive effects on the territory. With the closure of the Agricultural Penal Colony, which occurred in 1986, there has been progressive desertion of the land. Even in the early nineties, the agricultural activity was totally disappeared, and the Utilized Agricultural Area (UAA) was zero compared to 460 hectares of the previous decade. This trend is heavily affected by the closure of the penal Colony in 1986. In 2008, the Court of Appeal established the destination of an area of 500 hectares to "civic uses", that on which the decommissioned penal Colony was located, to which another 1,000 hectares are to be added, whose pertinency had already been decided. These extensions become the property of the individual citizens resident in Capraia, even if the Municipality will necessarily exercise the management of the property. Nowadays, the Municipality of Capraia Island is affected by a large area of civic property, and therefore an administrative process of reorganization aimed at territorial planning suitable to the available resources and their best use has been launched. Since 2012, under a dedicated Plan for the enhancement of civic uses, many terraces of the former Colony have been entrusted to practice agriculture through application to the Municipality. Thankfully, they have been entrusted to primarily young farmers who are reviving quality agriculture to meet the island's needs.
Potential actions-innovations:
1. ‑Restoration of terracing and return to production.
2. ‑Reactivation of the basins and pipelines for rainwater recovery to be used to irrigate the terraces.
3. ‑Analysis of the fertility level of the cultivable soils and definition of possible agronomic interventions to improve the quality of the soils, especially those abandoned for a long time.
4. ‑Evaluation of the potential of agricultural carbon sink on the island context.
5. ‑Implementation of possible forms of low-impact agriculture with reduced inputs and utmost consideration for the use of sustainable technical means for crop management and defense (compost or digestate, biochar, bioactive molecules, corroborants, green manure, and green chemistry).
6. ‑Re-launch the use of officinal herbs, beekeeping, etc., to trigger new lines of development in emerging market sectors such as cosmetics or dietary supplements aiming at the production quality.
7. ‑Support the use of modern and efficient mechanization suited to the specific characteristics of the territory.
8. ‑Monitor, also from an agricultural point of view, the plan to enhance civic uses of collective property.
