GREEN VILLAGE WOOD PRODUCTS ACTION CNR-IVALSA, ITALY 19TH – 25TH JUNE 2011

Introduction: During June 2011, CNR-IVALSA organized and hosted an action about wood products in northern Italy, near Milan. Attending project partners came from Cyprus (2), Germany (2), Ireland (4) and Italy (3). All were involved with agriculture and/or forestry in different ways. Management, research and contracting. The activity lasted a week, during which the group visited several farms and enterprises dealing with different wood products.

Exchange of Skills and Knowledge (WP2):

During the week, attending GV participants were introduced to:

An integrated farm, dealing with green tourism and offering own green products. The farm also represented a rare case of integration of several activities, such as tourism, primary production, contracting and wood processing. A modern chipping and pelletting plant was in operation at the farm, converting own wood raw materials and other raw material obtained from neighbouring farmers into green fuel. Much discussion went on concerning the technical, economic and social conditions required for a farm to get into pellet production, and the reliability of small scale pelletting plants. A poplar tree farm, growing traditional multi-product poplar plantations and innovative short-rotation coppice plantations. The exchange of knowledge concerned the reasons and the modes for converting an intensive milk-cattle farm into an extensive poplar plantations, with related pros and cons. A hardwood tree farm, with extensive agroforestry plantations in a number of different cropping modules and mixes. The farm is a leader in the sector of agroforestry, and has experimented a large number of species, mixes and rotations. Knowledge exchange was particularly intense with the Irish colleagues, and concerned the best crop mixes and management systems for obtaining the highest yield and value recovery. A local entrepreneur in the same area, managing a small-scale cogeneration plant, based on gasification and fuelled with local wood residues and straw. Knowledge exchanges concerned the efficiency and reliability of pre-commercial or early commercial small-scale plants, with special reference to the relationships between fuel quality and plant performance. The large peri-urban Park in Monza and the management of the local Agriculture School, which is one of the most active and renowned Italian training institutions in the field of park maintenance, management of urban green spaces and arboriculture. The School in Monza is the reference training facility for arborists, horticulturists and tree-climbers in Italy. GV partners visited the school, its facilities, and the experimental vegetable garden (specifically designed for sensorial training and enjoyment by mobility and visually challenged users). The day also included a visit to the school’s composting facility. Again, arboriculture and sensory training were the object of much discussion.

(1) Wood fuel production for the heating facility (2) Production facility of Pellet – compact wood fuel

(3) Poplar plantation (4) Poplar plantation. Discussions and suggestions

(5) Some walnut plantations for wood and fruit products

Engaging Communities (WP1):

The visits involved many exchanges with the local hosts: farmers, entrepreneurs and trainers. All were very much interested in the GV project activities and were informed about the project website. Direct one-one contacts developed in many cases.

Learning By Doing (WP3):

The GV participants did not engage in any specific practical activities.

Eco-Check (WP6): The organizer selected specific lodging and restaurant facilities that used local products and resources – certified whenever available. Transport was obtained by pooling cars and using low-emission catalytic models. The need for visiting scattered and remote farms prevented the use of public transportation.

(6) The pelletting plant

Monitoring and Evaluation (WP5): The success of the action was evaluated by talking to the participants and asking questions about their satisfaction with the week in Italy. The choice of sites was considered especially valuable, since many partners, and especially the Irish, are also engaged with similar agroforestry plantations as visited in Italy, and conduct arboryst training with programmes that are comparable to those run by the School in Monza. In further visits it could be useful to include also smaller-scale single-house heating facilities, which were not present in the current programme.

(7) Experimental “Sensitive Vegetable Garden” of the agricultural school for children and disabled persons