Category: Wheat Production

Within the EcoWheataly project, data are not just a scientific support tool — they are the structural foundation that allows researchers to analyze the past, interpret the present, and simulate the future of wheat production in Italy.At the center of this work lies the RICA database, the Italian branch of the EU Farm Accountancy Data …

Read more “From FADN to RISA: how agricultural data are changing in the new era of sustainability”

Within the EcoWheataly project, there is a crucial technological core: an agent-based simulation model (ABM) capable of representing thousands of Italian wheat farms — both real and virtual — to study how agricultural policies may shape the future of durum wheat production in Italy. The starting point is simple to describe but complex to build: …

Read more “Reconstructing Italy’s Wheat Landscape: Inside EcoWheataly’s ABM Model”

Within the EcoWheataly project, the research group from the University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara — including Piera Cascioli and Gianfranco Giulioni — has developed an innovative approach to studying wheat production: a model that combines Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with behavioral economics. From Profit to Environmental Awareness Traditional economic models describe farmers as perfectly rational …

Read more “Behavioral Economics Applied to Wheat: When Sustainability Depends on Choices”

When the Ecowheataly model starts up, thousands of Italian farms are placed inside a large digital map: from the rolling hills of the Marche region to the plains of Puglia, all the way to mountain farms, every corner of Italy enters the simulation with its own distinct identity.This is the starting point of the model …

Read more “A model that gives a voice to Italy’s wheat: how our national simulation really works”

Analysis from the 7th Agricultural Census – Ecowheataly 2025 Italy remains one of the world’s leading producers of durum wheat, the key ingredient for pasta and many traditional products.According to analyses conducted by Dr. Sara Quaresima (CNR) using data from the 7th General Agricultural Census (ISTAT, 2020), over 195,000 Italian farms cultivate durum wheat.The data …

Read more “Durum wheat in Italy: where and who produces it”

The EU has set an ambitious path: climate neutrality by 2050.Agriculture, responsible for about 10% of total EU emissions, is both a challenge and an opportunity.The question is whether the sector can truly achieve net-zero without compromising food security or farmers’ livelihoods. Where We Stand According to the JRC (2025), EU agriculture emits about 390 …

Read more “Goal 2050: Can European Agriculture Reach Net-Zero?”

In an era of climate and geopolitical crises, resilience has become a vital agricultural metric.For wheat — a staple feeding over 3 billion people — resilience means survival.But how can it be measured? From Yield to System Thinking Traditional metrics like average yield are no longer enough.A resilient system can absorb shocks, adapt, and maintain …

Read more “Wheat Resilience Index: Measuring the Vulnerability of Global Cereal Systems”

Every loaf and every plate of pasta is a silent choice — economic, cultural, and environmental.Yet, few people truly understand where their wheat comes from or what its impact is.Awareness is growing, but food literacy remains the missing link in the sustainability chain. The Everyday Paradox Wheat is everywhere, yet few can tell hard from …

Read more “Food Education and Sustainable Cereals: What Do Consumers Really Know?”

The future of farming has a young face — though still a rare one.In Italy, only 9% of farmers are under 40 (ISTAT, 2024).Yet, this minority holds the key to a sustainable, tech-driven and resilient agriculture. A Needed Generational Shift Most farms are still managed by older farmers, threatening innovation and continuity.The 2023–2027 CAP addresses …

Read more “Young People and the Agricultural Transition: Start-Ups, Digital Agronomists and New Cooperation Models”

Wheat has always connected communities and families — and now, it connects them through sustainability.Across Italy, green cooperatives are transforming agriculture by sharing tools, data, and values: innovation, ecology, and fairness. From Agricultural to Environmental Cooperatives Traditional farming cooperatives, once focused on shared machinery and credit, are now evolving into environmental cooperatives.They combine food production …

Read more “Green Cooperatives: The New Face of Italy’s Cereal Supply Chains”