Regional Study Area
The italian regional study area corresponds to the rice district of Lombardy and Piedmont. It is located in the Po River alluvial plain, between the Provinces of Milano, Pavia, Vercelli and Novara where rice represents by far the major crop. Rice cultivations cover about 200 000 ha. This accounts for 90% of the paddy rice cultivation in Italy and its production, most of which is used for export, represents about 60% of the total European production.
In this area, rice is cultivated from hundreds years because it was once a wetland area, whereas now it is a well irrigated region thanks to the many rivers that come from the Alps. The fertile soil, suitable climate and the availability of water make so that nowadays rice cultivation represent the basis of the economic structure of the area.
Local Study Area
The italian local case tests will be conducted in selected farms of the Lomellina rice district. Lomellina is situated in south-western Lombardy between the Ticino, Sesia and Po rivers. It’s the rural part of Pavia province, which includes 58 municipalities, and is particularly renowned for its rice cultivation, dates back to the 16th century. Some rice farmers of Lomellina recently formed a new consortia named “Distretto Agricolo delle Risaie Lomelline” which includes 40 members and is aimed at improving, protecting and promoting rice production in this territory. Some members of the district have already manifested interest in becoming the italian ERMES local End-Users for the project.
Lomellina specifically represents the main Italian rice district area between the Provinces of Milano, Pavia, Vercelli and Novara where rice represents far apart the major crop.
Italian Study Areas – Light blue line encloses the Piedmont/Lombardy regional study area; Red Line encloses the Lomellina local study area, while the yellow pointers correspond to three farms already involved in local experiments