Verso la ricerca multidisciplinare finalizzata alla conservazione preventiva: il contributo di tre entomologhe.

In recent years, the protection of cultural heritage is trying to change course, even in Italy, where a new approach based on preventive conservation is establishing. Recently, the ICOM-CC (2008) defines this concept as actions to prevent and minimize every aspect of cultural property future deterioration. Preventive conservation is based on the idea of non-intervention and turns out to be a major change of mindset that brings up also a different use of funds, particularly important in a period in which financial resources are very limited. A preventive conservation program begins with an assessment of the impact of the agents of deterioration on various collections and is followed by a pondered plan to mitigate these effects. It includes many different areas; among them, the degradation caused by biodeteriogens agents (insects, fungi, or bacteria) is of particular importance. In a preventive conservation plan, pests are seen as elements that can be monitored in various ways, and for which, it is possible to put in place measures to avoid damage or at least reduce it. As properties (or better collections) to be protected are stored in environments that have different characteristics, to find the necessary skills to manage all risks in a single professional figure is virtually impossible. Therefore, the need to work in equip with different specialists who contribute to implement effective and efficient preventive conservation strategy, becomes crucial. The biologist has the competence to deal with pests. Even in legislation, the importance of this specialist is recognized, but in reality the problem of biodeteriogens is often neglected and the importance of the skills of a biologist is not taken into account. This paper discusses the contribution that biologists can provide, in terms of basic and applied research, as well as practical work

Effects of different soil managements in vineyards to slope stability

Shallow landslides and soil erosion, induced by intense rainy events, are the most widespread slope instabilities that occur in vineyards cultivated along hillslopes. They could cause severe damages in the inter-row space and produce loss of soils characterized for high productivity levels. This fact provokes also land degradation and abandonment in cultivated areas. As a consequence of the higher diffusion of these extreme events in some European regions (e.g. Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Slovenia), it is necessary finding not invasive interventions, able to reduce the susceptibility of vineyards while preserving ecosystem sustainability. The inter-row soil managements at farm level could have effects on root distribution and, as consequence, on root reinforcement. This study aimed to analyze different agronomic techniques and their effect on root reinforcement in soil, in order to increase slope stability of vineyards susceptible to shallow damaging events. This study is supported by Fondazione CARIPLO AttivAree programme - Oltrepò(Bio)diverso project. The research was conducted in Oltrepò Pavese (North-Western Italy), an hilly area where traditional viticulture is present on steep slopes soils affected by several shallow landslides and erosions which caused significant environmental and economic losses. The parameters related on root density and reinforcement were evaluated under different soil management techniques (tillage, permanent grass mulching, alternation in the years of tillage and grass mulching in the inter-row spaces), also in relation to the presence of shallow landslides events. The techniques characterized to produce positive effects on soil stability were identified. This analysis, also, would furnish important guidelines in order to apply sustainable farm practices in vineyards while maintaining better levels of soil biodiversity and fertility and promoting a sustainable economic rising income of the territory

Factors influencing Italian consumers’ willingness to buy and pay for insect-fed poultry products

The use of insects as a protein source in feed production can significantly improve the sustainability of livestock production. Despite several environmental and animal welfare benefits, the economic sustainability of such an approach depends on the level of consumer acceptance and willingness to pay for insect-fed poultry diets. Using the results of an online survey of more than 850 Italian consumers, we first examine the main differences between two groups of consumers: those who are willing to buy insect-fed poultry meat and eggs and those who are not. The t-test is used to search for statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of their stated preferences for key food attributes that influence purchase decisions, as well as their view on food safety, quality and environmental issues. We then use ordered logit regression to estimate the determinants of consumers’ willingness to pay a price premium for insect-fed poultry compared to conventional poultry products. Particular attention is paid to the possible role of trust in the ability of the food system to provide safe food in influencing consumers’ preferences. The results show that consumers who are willing to buy insect-fed meat and eggs are more environmentally aware, have a stronger belief in the crucial role that changes in current food consumption patterns can play for the environment and social well-being, and have a higher level of trust in the system that guarantees food safety. The willingness to pay a price premium for insect-fed poultry food is mainly influenced by respondents’ beliefs about insect-fed poultry food, especially in terms of its expected quality characteristics and animal welfare. Findings from this analysis could provide insights into investments to ensure the economic sustainability of a more circular supply chain

Influences of agricultural practices on the slope stability of cultivated vineyards

Rainfall-induced shallow landslides affect vineyards cultivated along steep slopes in different European countries, provoking plant destructions, degradation of farm roads and infrastructures, loss of fertile soil. As a consequence of climate changes and of increase in abandoned areas, it is required to find innovative solutions, able to reduce hazards in vineyards without undermining their ecosystem and economic sustainability. Soil inter-row space management could have positive effects on roots distribution and soil reinforcement, resulting practices that could be diffused in wide areas making reduction in the proneness to instability. This study analyzes how different techniques could increase the stability of sloping vineyards. This research, supported by Fondazione CARIPLO AttivAree programme - OltrepòBiodiverso project, was conducted in Oltrepò Pavese North- Western Italy, a hilly area characterized by traditional viticulture on steep slopes, prone to shallow landslides. Different soil management practices tillage, permanent grass cover, alternation of tillage and grass cover were evaluated. Root density and reinforcement parameters were monitored, in relation to shallow landslides, identifying which practices could increase stability of susceptible slopes. This research aims to provide important guidelines for applying sustainable farm practices in unstable vineyards along wide territories reducing hazards, while maintaining better levels of soil biodiversity and fertility

Effects of vineyard soil management on the characteristics of soils and roots in the lower Oltrepò Apennines (Lombardy, Italy)

Cultivation of grapevines in sloping soils is very widespread all over the world, representing also fundamental branch of local economy of several hilly areas. Vineyards can be managed in different ways. Agronomical practices in inter-rows can be significantly different and may influence deeply the soil properties and the grapevine root development. Therefore, this paper aimed to analyze the effects of different management practices of inter-rows. We focused on the traditional agricultural techniques of tillage and permanent grass mulching as well as the alternation of these two practices between adjacent inter-rows, in terms of: i) soil physical properties; ii) soil hydrological properties; iii) root density; iv) root mechanical properties and root reinforcement; as well as v) biodiversity. The research was conducted in several test-sites of Oltrepò Pavese (Lombardy region, north-western Italy), one of the most important Italian zones for wine production in northern Italian Apennines. Among the examined soil properties, hydraulic conductivity was the most influenced soil property by different soil management practices. The absence of soil tillage allowed to increase superficial (first 0.2 m of soil) hydraulic conductivity, as a consequence of higher macroporosity and amount in organic matter. Vineyards with alternation management (grass mulching together with tillage) of inter-rows had the highest root density and the strongest root reinforcement, of up to 45% in comparison to permanent grass cover, and up to 67-73% in comparison to tilled vineyards. Soil microarthropod communities had more complexity where sustainable agricultural practices (permanent grass cover; alternation management of the inter-rows) were applied. The results of this study yielded important information to establish effective management practices of vineyards such as conserving organic matter and reducing slope instabilities by a better development of root apparatus in the soil

Effects of Vineyard Inter-Row Management on Soils, Roots and Shallow Landslides Probability in the Apennines, Lombardy, Italy

Cultivation of grapevines in sloping soils is very widespread all over the world, representing also a fundamental branch of the local economy of several hilly zones. Vineyards can be managed in different ways especially the inter-rows. These management practices may influence deeply soil properties and grapevine root development. Therefore, this work aims to analyze the effects of different agronomical practices of inter-rows on soil properties, grapevine root systems and proneness towards shallow landslides. We focused on traditional agricultural techniques of tillage and permanent grass cover as well as the alternation of these two practices between adjacent inter-rows. The studied parameters were: (i) soil physical and hydrological properties; (ii) soil biodiversity; (iii) root density; (iv) root mechanical properties and root reinforcement; (v) probability of occurrence of shallow landslides. The research was conducted in several test-sites of the Oltrepò Pavese (Lombardy region, north-western Italy), one of the most important Italian zones for wine production in northern Italian Apennines. Among the examined soil properties, soil hydraulic conductivity was the most influenced one by different soil management practices. The absence of soil tillage allowed to increase superficial (first 0.2 m of soil) hydraulic conductivity, as a consequence of higher macroporosity and amount in organic matter. Within the soil biological features, soil microarthropod communities showed more complexity where permanent grass cover or alternation management of the inter-rows were applied. Regarding the features of the grapevine root system, vineyards with alternation management of inter-rows had the highest root density and the strongest root reinforcement, of up to 45% in comparison to permanent grass cover, and up to 67–73% in comparison to tilled vineyards. As a consequence, slopes with medium steepness (10–18°) were unstable if inter-rows of vineyards were tilled, while vineyards with permanent grass cover or alternation in the inter rows promoted the stability of slopes with higher steepness (> 21–25° for vineyards with permanent grass cover in the inter rows, 28–33° for vineyards with alternation). The results of this study yielded important information to establish effective management practices of vineyards such as conserving organic matter and reducing slope instabilities by a better development of the root apparatus. Possible land use managements acting as mitigation measures for shallow landslides susceptibility could be also implemented. This work was supported by the project Oltrepò BioDiverso, funded by Fondazione Cariplo in the frame of AttivAree Program

Do It by Yourself: Larval Locomotion in the Black Soldier Fly Hermetia illucens, with a Novel “Self-Harvesting” Method to Separate Prepupae

The neotropical insect Hermetia illucens has become a cosmopolite species, and it is considered a highly promising insect in circular and sustainable economic processes. Being able to feed on a wide variety of organic substrates, it represents a source of lipids and proteins for many uses and produces recyclable waste. We investigated the characteristics and differences in the poorly-known locomotory behaviour of larvae of different instars, paying particular attention to the unique characteristics of the prepupal stage, key to farming and industrial processes. Moreover, we attempted to develop a “self-harvesting” system relying on the behavioural traits of prepupae to obtain their separation from younger larvae under rearing condition with minimum effort. Prepupae differ from younger larvae in their response to physical disturbance in the form of tonic immobility and significantly differ in their locomotory movements. Both prepupae and younger larvae reacted similarly to heat or light-induced stress, but low light and high moisture induced only prepupae to migrate away, which resulted in the development of a highly efficient separation methodology. The new data on the behaviour of H. illucens not only shed new light on some unexplored aspects of its biology, but also led to develop an inexpensive self-harvesting system that can be implemented in small-scale and industrial farming