Abstract
General Aim
The general aim of the project is to increase the amount of sustainably-produced fresh produce by testing and implementing low-input agricultural practices (LIP) with a positive impact on product quality with the support of non-destructive (ND) tools for real-time quality assessment and product discrimination, which may inspire new marketing strategies to better support the added value of the products and increase incomes of potential users. Producing high-quality products represents a key driver in the horticultural sector although the concept of quality has evolved substantially over the past few decades. From traditional attributes (visual and organoleptic) also representing the main focus of most of the quality standards and regulations, more recently other important aspects are gaining relevance: the consolidated consumer attention towards the nutritional value of fresh horticultural products and their increasing sensibility toward the environmental impact of production processes. Efficient use of resources (water and fertilizers) in irrigated greenhouse agriculture, are promising and increasingly adopted strategies to achieve better crop performance, improved nutritional and sensorial quality.
The proposed methodology will use two crop models: rocket leaves (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.) and tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.), representing leafy and fruit vegetables, diffusely produced in greenhouses.
General Objective
The general objective of the project will be reached through the following partial objectives:
to increase the efficiency of water and fertilizers in soilless (with open and closed-cycles with recirculation of nutrients) and soil cultivation in unheated greenhouses in order to reduce the impact on the environment and on the society.
to assess the quality of products with conventional and innovative non-destructive approaches, providing innovative tools for discrimination of those obtained by LIP, and for quality prediction of products while in their package.
to test the hypothesis of the influence of quality certification of LIP practices resulting from ND methods on consumer choices and their willingness to pay, in order to produce adequate and realistic marketing strategies.
Expected Results
The project results are expected to reduce the impact of the agriculture on the environment, ensuring high-quality crop to the consumer, higher incomes to farmers, and reduced food losses to the society. The added information on crop history and the marketing strategies will allow to sustain and diffuse the use of LIP, creating a virtuous mechanism which will positively affect further farmers and consumers choices.