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News, activities and publications regarding the SISCOL Project, which is dedicated to the research and development of innovative farming systems for solving agricultural problems related to water resource management and agricultural waste processing.
September 2023
SISCOL Project Demonstration Field - Demonstration of the vegetative monitoring system and the composting system
In September 2023 the SISCOL Project organizes a demonstration camp with the aim of disseminating the project of the I-GEA Operational Group; in particular by demonstrating the innovative vegetative monitoring system using a DJI P4 Multispectral drone in operation for improving the management of water resources used for cultivation and the operation of the innovative composting system using a mechanical composter for the improvement and monitoring of nutrients.
Dr. Paolo Roccaro, professor of Environmental Health Engineering at the University of Catania, presents the project and the composting system and engineer Federico D’Anna, technical consultant for the innovation of the drone, intervenes to demonstrate the flight of the drone. SISCOL project.
The SISCOL Project is financed by the F.E.A.S.R. fund. (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) and by the Sicilian Region and sub-measure 16.1 of the Sicily RDP 2014-2022.
June 2023
Testing of mechanical composter for nutrient enhancement and monitoring started
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at the Azienda Agricola Gangi Dante Giuseppe, the lead subject of the operational group adhering to the SISCOL project, under the supervision of the owner of the company, staff from the University of Catania and professionals involved in the project, the testing of the mechanical composter provided by the company CRTEC S.r.l., present with their technicians, was started, which will allow the pursuit of one of the specific objectives of the project.
Through this technology, in fact, waste and residues from agricultural activities will be valorized in a circular economy perspective. Specifically, cattle manure and residues from the pruning of medicinal plants, wheat and olive trees will be used as an organic substrate and structuring agent, respectively, to start the biological process. Following the biological oxidation and maturation stages, the input mixture will be transformed into biologically stable compost that can be used within the farms themselves as a soil fertilizer.
In order to optimize the parameters and based on the seasonal variability of the quantities and characteristics of the above materials, different process durations (30, 60 and 90 days) and different proportions of the input mixtures (depending on their moisture content) will be tested in the coming months. The results of these tests will be analyzed in terms of the quality of compost produced.
The day was an opportunity for those in attendance to carry out.
May 2023
Started the testing of Kalorina 2310 EPA boiler for converting agricultural waste into thermal energy
The SISCOL Project proposes an innovative system for the valorization of agricultural waste. The proposed system involves a combination of shredders and composting systems. The shredders will produce wood chips from olive tree woody pruning residues and waste from oregano processing. The wood chips will be burned in a boiler and then reused for heat/energy production on the farm.
In May 2023, engineer Federico D’Anna, technical advisor for innovation of the SISCOL Project, demonstrates the process of transforming agricultural waste into energy using TATANO’s Kalorina 2310 EPA electronic boiler; where the wood chips produced from the end of plant cultivation are reused as fuel producing thermal energy used for drying aromatic plants.
April 2023
Gangi Dante Farm presents technological innovation in agriculture from DJI P4 Multispectral drone
The implementation of the intelligent water management system based on computerized communication technology (I.C.T.) aims at optimizing the use of water resources available for irrigation.
By implementing an intelligent water management system, based on precision agriculture techniques, it will allow us the quali-quantitative efficiency of water demand for irrigation use that will allow the farmer a better and effective use of water resources. In fact, it will make it possible to provide the amount of water strictly necessary and the amount of nutrients useful for plant growth (fertigation).
The appropriate mixing of different water resources such as surface water, rainwater, well water (often characterized by high salinity) and a real-time monitoring system based on pH, conductivity and UV absorbance measurements will allow the use of irrigation water of suitable quality. This will help increase the availability of water resources, a factor of great importance during the occurrence of extreme drought events.
In April 2023, Dr. Mauro Gangi, representative of the Lead Company of the I-GEA Operating Group that initiated the SISCOL Project, explains the technological innovation of the project for solving agricultural problems.
In particular, it is shown, the use of the DJI P4 Multispectral drone monitoring system for the improvement of management
February 2023
SISCOL project presentation conference at expo ECOMED 2023
In February 2023, the SISCOL Project participates in the EXPO ECOMED in Catania, where Dr. Paolo Roccaro, professor of Environmental Health Engineering at the University of Catania, presents the SISCOL Project in a conference at ECOMED on April 19, 2023. UNICT is a research partner of the I-GEA operating group that initiated this project to develop innovative farming systems.
The SISCOL Project is financed by the F.E.A.S.R. (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) fund and the Sicilian Region and sub-measure 16.1 of the RDP Sicily 2014-2022.
TERRÀ, the agriculture multimedia portal, publishes an article on the innovation presented by the SISCOL Project
In February 2023, Terrà, an extension portal of the Sicilian Region’s Department of Agriculture; dedicates a page of its blog helping us to spread the important task of research and innovation of farming systems that our SISCOL Project proposes.
The blog offers useful information regarding calls for proposals, regulations and food culture, using multimedia supports.
A project that rests on two main pillars:
– transparency
– communication
Two elements, today more than ever, indispensable for public administration to develop and consolidate a relationship with the citizen and the agricultural world, in the fact species. As it seems appropriate to remember that the development of an adequate communication strategy is the very prerequisite for the success of policies and initiatives implemented by the European Union and territorial partners.
If you want to read the article written by Terrà click here.
Dicembre 2022
UNICIT presents its research partnership within the SISCOL Project.
Dr. Paolo Roccaro, professor of Environmental Health Engineering at the University of Catania, presents the SISCOL Project at the UNICIT offices, Feb. 2023.
Researchers from the University of Catania will play a crucial role in introducing innovation to the companies involved in the partnership. The University of Catania will be responsible for following the installation and testing of the ICT system for Precision Agriculture. The entire agricultural area identified and all crops present will be covered by the drone flight. The data collected will be useful for assessing all agronomic needs. Output data such as maps and indices will be properly managed through software and processed in an understandable form to interface with farm use.
Throughout the project, companies will be supported, by professionals and researchers from the University of Catania in the management and use of this technology. Several operational meetings (monthly) and demonstration trials will be carried out for this purpose, as further detailed in the attached dissemination plan. The data processed by the ICT system will also be periodically validated by field or laboratory measurements, thanks to the cooperation of the University and specialized technicians identified by the G.O. partners.
Intelligent and Ecosustainable Systems for Sicilian Agriculture.
Operating Group I-GEA Project
Address:
Via Castelnuovo 227 Resuttano 93010 CL
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+39 320 6443 902
+39 331 1023 301
E-mail:
info@siscol.eu
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