Last week, we visited the MIDAS demo field in Monterotondo, near Rome, which hosts a unique agroforestry system. This experimental site, located within CREA-IT facilities, showcases the potential of intercropping annual industrial crops (this year, safflower) between rows of an established poplar plantation.
This marginal land, prone to waterlogging, benefits from the poplar’s deep roots and stems, which provide shade and organic matter, mitigating the effects of both excess moisture and summer heat. CREA researchers are also piloting a rainwater collection system that diverts excess water during the rainy season into inflatable tanks, effectively repurposing it for drip irrigation during peak summer heat.
The project’s scope extends beyond agronomics and yields. Researchers are also monitoring insect biodiversity within the plantation, assessing the environmental impact of this innovative system.
Soon, the safflower seeds will be harvested and sent to Novamont for biobased product development. Meanwhile, the poplar plantation, managed through a multi-year coppicing cycle, will continue to provide biomass for energy and materials.
Learn more in this video by ETA Florence Renewable Energies
