On September 9, La Regione Emilia Romagna approved the three-year research project SRG01, which was presented by Agripat – Potato Producers Organization (Agripat – Organizzazione Produttori patate), as part of the Rural Development Projects 2023–2027 (Progetti di Sviluppo Rurale 2023–2027).

Within the framework of ‘Sostegno ai Gruppi Operativi PEI AGRI,’ an interdisciplinary project is being funded that actively involves 10 agricultural companies and potato producers affiliated with it, in addition to Agripat: il Consorzio di bonifica di secondo grado per il Canale Emiliano Romagnolo C.E.R.; il Consorzio Patata Italiana di Qualità s.c.a.r.l. (Selenella); il C.S.O. – Centro Servizi Ortofrutticoli soc.coop; Dinamica s.c.a.r.l.; Horta s.r.l.; Romagnoli F.lli S.P.A.; Università degli studi di Ferrara.

The P.A.T.A.T.A. project is a response to the actual needs of farmers, who, despite the Agripat leader’s previous research and innovation efforts – namely, the SPADE project funded under the PSR 2014–2022 Mis. 16.1.01 FA 4B – now demands a ‘messa a terra’ of the results (transfer), particularly an in-depth analysis of irrigation techniques. The recently concluded SPADE project revealed strong connections with the wireworm (Elateridae) problem, which has, according to Istat data, been undermining the profitability of potato companies in La Regione Emilia Romagna, and in the province of Bologna in particular, over the past ten years.

“To avoid having to abandon the crop as a last resort due to damage caused by wireworms, irrigation has become a crucial activity for potato cultivation as well. To achieve this, it is important to apply research studies to make the water distribution methods more efficient. Nonetheless, it is imperative to keep emphasizing that the battle against wireworms is unique to all of agriculture because these soil insects also have an impact on any crops that are rotated on the same piece of land,” according to a recent press announcement.

It is important to highlight that the term ‘aggregazione’ is mentioned in the title of the project because it is the entire regional potato supply chain, represented by the ‘sistema Bologna’, with the L’Organizzazione Produttori Agripat as the leader, that joins together to seek solutions to support and increase the interest of regional farmers in potato cultivation.

In addition to the representation of production, through the leader, the active involvement of primary production farms, mostly operating in areas with a higher degree of rurality, research institutions, suppliers of digital Supporto alle Decisioni (DSS), warehouses that collect, store and package potatoes is expected.

The Consorzio Patata Italiana di Qualità, which manages and certifies the most well-known potato brand at a national level, and the CSO Italy, which has been supporting the promotion and protection of fruit and vegetable production for years, also at an international level, are participating with full interest. Furthermore, the activity of transferring the results is essential, both in the form of dissemination and as consultancy and training.

The specific aspect, proposed by this multi-year project, is aimed at studying the correlation between how the water is distributed to the soil, through the methods used for irrigation, and the biological development of wireworms.

The economic and social consequences that lead to the drop in investments in potato cultivation, motivated by the impossibility of effectively counteracting the proliferation of wireworms in the soil, are very high. The Project aims to reverse this scenario, using the plant protection products that the La Regione Emilia Romagna provides in the integrated production specifications, also paying attention to newly introduced products, using irrigation more efficiently by following the provisions of the known digital forecasting and monitoring systems.

The correct use of water sources for irrigation purposes is the key principle of the project, in parallel with the full-spectrum assessment of the presence of damage to tubers caused by Agriotes larvae. The aim is to research the correlation between the humidity level of the soil, governing the various irrigation methods, and the presence of wireworms, the main cause of tuber rejection at harvest.

Furthermore, many regional production areas have levels of organic matter well below optimal values, with negative consequences on the chemical-physical characteristics and microbial biodiversity of the soil, which must be protected and improved.