Technological and biological innovations in agrifood commodities for sustainable rural development

The present dissertation highlights the results obtained from the activities conducted within the framework of the PhD focused on the project “Technological and biotechnological innovations in agrifood commodities for sustainable rural development”. The European agriculture, and the food systems in the last decades were characterised by profound structural changes resulting in a food production decoupletation of from natural processes and an increased dependency on industrially produced inputs and fossil fuels. The social and environmental outcomes of these developments have been widely analysed and documented. The concentration of agricultural production and the increasing polarisation of agricultural structures has led to significant problems in both, intensive farming areas and less favoured areas. There is a large risk that the very substantial public and private sector investments currently going into building a “knowledge-based bioeconomy” will further aggravate these problems, as this will reinforce the agricultural sector's focus on producing cheap raw materials. To promote a more balanced development of rural areas, it seems of utmost importance to steer structural changes in directions that foster a more sustainable development, and that contribute to addressing the social, environmental, and economic imbalances and challenges. Hence, the transformation and the adaptive capacity of the agricultural sector and of rural economies have become key questions. The notion of sustainable development (SD) is increasingly characterizing the political horizon of many governments. Based on this consideration, a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and a new governance structure are the main innovations of the 2021-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), approved by the European Parliament. In particular, the CAP 2021-2027 is characterized by an alignment with the climate and sustainable development objectives. In fact, the European Parliament wants to bind farmers to practices that are more respectful of the climate and the environment, in exchange for direct funding. At least 30% of direct aid (the first pillar of the CAP) is destined for voluntary ecological schemes that could end up increasing the income received by farmers as well. Another 35%, that of the second pillar of the CAP (the Rural Development Plans), will be dedicated to any type of measure linked to the climate or the environment, while the remaining 30% of the funding should support farmers in the fight against change climate, also considering the sustainable management of natural resources and the protection of biodiversity. Moreover, the marginal and internal areas will have a strategic role to enable sustainable development at global level. In order to really get the so-called Green Deal off the ground, a new strategy is necessary establishing a strong alliance between the reasons of the agriculture and those related to ecosystems and climate protection. It is within this context that the present dissertation fits with the overall objective of identifying and validating sustainable solutions that are in line with the ecological transition in a specific geographic area. The overall goal was achieved through the achievement of specific objectives each developed and reported in 4 chapters. The activities conducted in Chapter 1 highlighted that the development in a rural context can begin by using a “district” approach to manage the area. For this purpose, the entire province of Benevento was chosen as the area that better represent the internal and marginal agri-food system. So, Benevento was used as a sample area for validating and verifying the “district approach.” The agri-food system of the inland areas, even where it identifies district forms rich in potential, needs development strategies in the management of agricultural systems. The geographical area of Sannio can be identified by two distinct and lively districts, one dedicated to zootechnics and the other to vine and olive products. However, it lives in a threatened condition, clinging to the fragile ecosystems of the Mediterranean, while facing serious ecological, financial, and social challenges. A lack of successful farmers, climate change and COVID-19 restrictions have made this system vulnerable, despite its long tradition. Yet, agrifood and agropastoral systems in inland areas play a crucial role in a new era, a new post-Covid pandemic time, by increasing resilience to climate change, preserving, and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, but above all through the development and promotion of a healthy and safe food system with a sustainable and rational use of natural sources. Through the activities outlined in Chapter 1, the characteristics of the selected geographical area were investigated, and pivot chains were identified. Specifically, the bovine chain for milk production appears to be the most interesting and at the same time full of fragilities and impending innovations. Chapter 2 provides reflections and discussions on a new financial model capable of ensuring One Health (OH) and ecological transition in cattle breeding. Economic health is here considered as the starting point of the new One Health financial model, ethical and scientific, proposed as a model in embryo, in which specific rules should govern public funds, private investments and trade. In this way, economic losses due to the negative side effects of human activities can be progressively reduced and the entire planet will benefit from this process. Recalling Dr. Bernard Url’s conclusive speech in the ONE2022 conference, “We have to change the financial model in which we are locked”. Since investors bet on innovation only considering its impact/success and the extent of economic return, we need to build a way to direct investments toward ethical and science-based choices. National and international rules concerning public/private investments and trading could regulate the flow of money, directing it exclusively toward companies that meet a broad range of OH parameters, ranging from environmental impact up to food safety, human health, work conditions, duration of employment, number of layoffs per decade, wage conditions, gender and social equality, etc. A OH conformity certificate for enterprises—listed in the stock market or not—should be awarded considering various aspects of the OH, each of which should be analysed using a proper checklist. Each analysed checklist could then be merged in a final document declaring (or not) the compliance of a specific enterprise with a minimum number of the considered parameters useful to evaluate its OH status. This in-embryo One Health Financial Model is based on money exclusively invested in certified enterprises. In this model, money can be effectively used in the effort to improve human society and global conditions, avoiding economic losses due to negative side effects on the holistically considered health, in the effort to effectively purpose the OH goal. Dedicated agencies and databanks preserving all data concerning certified enterprises are needed. Data, when shared in open access, could efficaciously improve public engagement, addressing consumers’ choices toward certified producers who comply with the OH objectives. The introduction of sustainable and one heath solutions to improve food quality and competitiveness remains an interesting new element to pursue as it would give a clear identity to the Sannio dairy sector. A strategic element, the latter, that would also allow the valorisation of competitive segments downstream, such as dairy production from healthy, genuine, sustainable, and clearly identifiable milk. Furthermore, it should be taken into strong consideration that the intensification of livestock breeding in the last century has contributed to the numerous negative impacts of agriculture on the environment and on animals and human health, among them, just to name a few, zoonotic epidemics, antibiotic resistance, consumption of animal products associated with increased risk of cancer. The evolution of farming towards sustainable systems that respect humans, animals and the ecological state of the planet is a key aspect of the transitions of the agri-food system. In this context, existing solutions are no longer sufficient, and it is necessary to develop new solutions and research and innovation approaches. While in recent years research and innovation in the agricultural sector has been organized top-down and has been outsourced by farms, many studies have highlighted the need to develop research approaches and innovation open to the participation of a variety of actors (researchers, practitioners, government, and civil society) in a context of global transition. In Chapter 3, the most appropriate innovation strategies were identified that would make improving competitiveness compatible with sustainability and agroecology. To produce nonobvious, widely shared and more efficient innovative ideas, a method based on sharing knowledge and experience within the specific district area was proposed. This approach represents an evolution of the citizen science model and would facilitate the definition of innovations and the promotion of agroecological transitions by building a common horizon with farmers, technicians and researchers. Several studies point out that a group with a heterogeneity of actors can lead to the design of original and varied ideas, if methods are mobilised to overcome fixation effects. Among these, the Knowledge-Concept-Proposal (KCP) method, based on the organisation of design workshops, aims to control these fixation effects. Therefore, the research actions were conducted with the intention of involving citizens and the various actors of the food district itself in the exploration of innovative solutions for the milk supply chain. To this end, a co-designing process (based on workshops and comparisons) was implemented involving researchers, livestock professionals and citizens with the aim of producing knowledge and developing innovative solutions for the dairy systems of the Alto Sannio area. Based on the data that emerged from the analysis of the quantitative research literature and derived from the sharing of knowledge and experience through the KCP method, the central part of the doctoral thesis was addressed to the development of an innovation based on hay management and the valorisation of the beekeeping heritage of Alto Sannio. Bees and hay in cattle feeding appear to be the two themes that best identify the concept of health in its broadest sense as well as the link to territoriality. Hay alone or as a vehicle for microorganisms can significantly affect animal welfare and milk quality. It is widely known that pollinating insects provide an important ecosystem service that supports global biodiversity and environmental health. However, it should be emphasised that the microbial supply from the use of silage significantly influences rumen activity and thus milk quality. Therefore, combining the benefits of hay with those of the microbial population is an interesting auspice. The identification of a microbial biotype compatible with the forage essences of the district area as well as indicator of the environmental well-being of the area would fully meet the need for non-obvious innovations. Results related to the validation of biotechnological innovation are reported in Chapter 4. In particular, the innovation based on the combination of hay and microbial biodiversity of the bee herd has produced positive effects on sustainable rural development and One Health concepts. The innovation has removed the unhealthy veil from the cattle sector and improved both animal welfare and milk quality. For example, the introduction of a specific lactic acid bacteria from beekeeping material into hay management has improved the milk fatty acid profile. An innovation in line with the times of biodiversity and satisfying both milk quality and consumer healthiness.