THE COMPANY 2 - Agricola · PDF fileTHE COMPANY..... 2 WHO WE ARE & OUR HISTORY ... (stone fruit & pome fruit) Horticultural crops (outdoor & indoor) Legumes Strawberry (indoor & outdoor)

THE COMPANY........................................................................................................................ 2WHO WE ARE & OUR HISTORY ..................................................................................... 3MISSION ......................................................................................................................... 5CREDITS .......................................................................................................................... 7WHERE WE ARE & CONTACTS ...................................................................................... 8ORGANIZATION CHART .................................................................................................. 9

AGROCHEMICAL SERVICES .............................................................................................. 12CROPS AND AREAS ...................................................................................................... 13AGROCHEMICAL TRIALS EQUIPMENT ......................................................................... 14GLP TRIALS ................................................................................................................... 16

RESIDUE STUDIES ................................................................................................ 18BEHAVIOUR IN SOIL, WATER, AIR & BIOACCUMULATION .................................. 19ROTATIONAL CROP FIELD STUDY ....................................................................... 20WORKER EXPOSURE AND RE-ENTRY .................................................................. 21

GEP TRIALS ................................................................................................................... 22HERBICIDES .......................................................................................................... 24INSECTICIDES, ACARICIDES & NEMATICIDES ..................................................... 26FUNGICIDES .......................................................................................................... 28BIOSTIMULANTS & GROWTH REGULATORS ....................................................... 30CROP SELECTIVITY ............................................................................................... 32CROP SCREENING ............................................................................................... 34SEED CARE .......................................................................................................... 36RESISTANCE INSURANCE ................................................................................... 38

DEMO-TRIALS & TECHNICAL WORKSHOP .................................................................. 40REGULATORY AFFAIRS ................................................................................................. 42BIOSTIMULATNTS & FERTILIZERS REGISTRATION ...................................................... 43

SEED SERVICES ................................................................................................................... 45TRIAL PLOT EQUIPMENT .............................................................................................. 47SEED PRODUCTION EQUIPMENTS ............................................................................. 49VARIETY & AGRONOMICAL TRIALS .............................................................................. 51

FIELD DESIGN AND SET UP .................................................................................. 53ASSESSMENT, HARVESTING & SAMPLING ........................................................... 55

ASSISTANCE TO BREEDING ......................................................................................... 57SEED PRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 59OFFICIAL VARIETY LISTING ........................................................................................... 61CROP MONITORING ..................................................................................................... 62

AGROTECH DEPARTMENT .................................................................................................. 65VEGETATIVE INDEX MAPS ............................................................................................ 66ENHANCED TRIAL ASSESSMENT ................................................................................ 68PLOT QUALITY REPORT & PLANT COUNT ................................................................... 70TERRITORY MONITORING ........................................................................................... 72PROFESSIONAL SHOOTING & VIDEOS ..................................................................... 74

PROJECTS & CONSULTING ................................................................................................. 77CONSULTING TO CREATE BUSINESS NETWORKS ..................................................... 78CONSULTING FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT IN RDP................................................ 79URBAN FORESTRY ........................................................................................................ 80TRAINING COURSES ..................................................................................................... 81

1

THE COMPANY........................................................................................................................ 2WHO WE ARE & OUR HISTORY ..................................................................................... 3MISSION ......................................................................................................................... 5CREDITS .......................................................................................................................... 7WHERE WE ARE & CONTACTS ...................................................................................... 8ORGANIZATION CHART .................................................................................................. 9

SECTION SUMMARY GENERAL SUMMARY

2

THE COMPANYAgricola 2000 is a leading company in testing new products and techniques for agri-culture. It acts as an innovation driver for public and private Companies and Research Institutes operating in agribusiness as well as in consulting.


3

WHO WE ARE & OUR HISTORY Agricola 2000 was set up in 1983, when some students at the Department of Agriculture of the University of Milan met the professors who were to supervise their final dissertations. Those professors taught them not only their technical and scientific knowledge, but also their own passion for science and agriculture together with their passion for life. This relationship grew stronger and stronger: it turned into mutual respect and often into friendship. While having dinner together one night they found out they had a common wish - and at the same time an idea was put forth: ‘Why don’t we try to transfer our university experience into our workplace?’ ‘Why don’t we try to build something with the help of these people, who are like mentors to us?’.

In that moment Agricola 2000 came to life.

The professors helped their former students write their first projects for research calls, worked with them on genetic improvement programmes and helped them find trial equipment. The money needed to start the business was lent by a friend who had been a mentor to the students as well, and who had contributed to their boldness and the development of their critical attitude towards reality. Step by step the first orders were placed and some calls were won.

Sometimes their work in the fields was hard and they lacked the money needed to pay salaries. Many friends involved in the project helped them. Everyone was willing to make a sacrifice because they were aware of what they were creating.

Gradually things started to work and the company grew, together with the number of orders. Genetic impro-vement started to yield results: the first materials were registered, hybrids were put on the market, the first inbred lines were sold. Trials on agrochemicals were undertaken and a few years later the authorities ack-nowledged Agricola 2000 as a CRO (Contract Research Organisation). Some international research projects were carried out as well.

Agricola slowly became a benchmark for companies working in agribusiness, research institutes and for all the Institutions that were looking for a connection with local agricultural companies. New collaborations with producers’ and business associations began.


4

Things were going well but something was about to change soon. In the mid Nineties many big corporations merged with small and medium Italian enterprises. In those same years molecular biology boosted scientific research and genetic improvement. GMOs appeared and were seen as groundbreaking technology. Genetic improvement seemed to be unconditionally bounded to molecular biology. Unfortunately, a small company like Agricola 2000 could not afford a laboratory. Moreover, many seed companies started to consider Agri-cola 2000 as an interesting case. Hence, genetic improvement programmes were sold together with germ-plasm, breeders and technicians. It was a great opportunity both for the people involved and the company.

The following years were hard but challenging at the same time. Many of the partners took different paths but those who stayed had to face a more and more competitive market where corporations played a major role. In the meantime some new people aware of the company history joined in, took it to heart and started to make efforts in order to keep it up and running. Thanks to their help and to workers’ commitment Agricola 2000 started growing again and offered new job vacancies in spite of the crisis characterising the late 2000s.

Agricola 2000 offers its workers a great chance: professional growth linked to personal growth. The company development is strictly connected to the growth of its employees. This has always been one of Agricola 2000 peculiarities.


5

MISSION ‘If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assi-gn them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea’. Antoine de Saint-Exupérie

Agricola 2000 is a cooperative society in public limited form. All its members take part in its development and at the same time the company grows thanks to its members’ work.

The company strength lies in the professional and personal growth of the people who work for it. Each par-tner owns some company shares but in shareholders’ meetings they are treated as equal regardless of the shares they hold.

Agricola 2000 aims at guaranteeing the work of each partner in full compliance with acceptable economic conditions and at offering professional growth taking into account the characteristics, inclinations and inte-rests of each employee.

Agricola 2000 intends to be a benchmark for all the institutions, companies and research centres operating in the agricultural sector, mainly focusing on knowledge transfer, elaborating techniques as well as implemen-ting research projects in close cooperation with local productive and professional bodies.


6SECTION SUMMARY GENERAL SUMMARY

7

CREDITSCertificate of Conformity to Good Practices For Field Tests – GEP D.L. 194/95 MiPAAF

Certificate of GLP Compliance 020/2013 D.L. 50/07 – D.M. 4/7/1997 – Directive 2004/9/EC – Ministry of Health

Authorization 03/1357 for Reproduction and Trade of Vegetables Regione Lombardia

Declaration 4881 for Non-critical Specialized Operation for UAV ENAC D.P.R. 445/2000


8

WHERE WE ARE & CONTACTS Agricola 2000 S.C.p.A. Via Trieste 9 20067 Tribiano (MI) Italy

Tel +390290631186 Fax +390290632996 [email protected]

http://www.agricola2000.com

SPAIN TEAM

HEADQUARTER

NORTH EAST TEAM

SOUTH TEAM


9

ORGANIZATION CHARTAgricola 2000 is not managed according to a hierarchical top-down structure; the managerial and operative teams are always in touch and proposals from both sides are always shared. Such management is a means for company growth and is supported by the operative team.



11

AGROCHEMICAL SERVICES .............................................................................................. 12CROPS AND AREAS ...................................................................................................... 13AGROCHEMICAL TRIALS EQUIPMENT ......................................................................... 14GLP TRIALS ................................................................................................................... 16

RESIDUE STUDIES ................................................................................................ 18BEHAVIOUR IN SOIL, WATER, AIR & BIOACCUMULATION .................................. 19ROTATIONAL CROP FIELD STUDY ....................................................................... 20WORKER EXPOSURE AND RE-ENTRY .................................................................. 21

GEP TRIALS ................................................................................................................... 22HERBICIDES .......................................................................................................... 24INSECTICIDES, ACARICIDES & NEMATICIDES ..................................................... 26FUNGICIDES .......................................................................................................... 28BIOSTIMULANTS & GROWTH REGULATORS ....................................................... 30CROP SELECTIVITY ............................................................................................... 32CROP SCREENING ............................................................................................... 34SEED CARE .......................................................................................................... 36RESISTANCE INSURANCE ................................................................................... 38

DEMO-TRIALS & TECHNICAL WORKSHOP .................................................................. 40REGULATORY AFFAIRS ................................................................................................. 42BIOSTIMULATNTS & FERTILIZERS REGISTRATION ...................................................... 43


12

AGROCHEMICAL SERVICES High standards, experience and technical expertise make Agricola 2000 an important test facility and a benchmark for all companies operating in the field of phytosanitary products.

Agricola 2000 is one of the first companies acknowledged as CRO by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture in 1996, and as such is able to carry out official open-field tests aimed at collecting effective data (Good Efficacy Practices) and determining residue extents (Good Laboratory Practices) of phytosanitary pro-ducts pursuant to the latest European directives about pesticide registration and to Ministry of Health provisions.

Agricola 2000 is periodically inspected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Health.


13

CROPS AND AREASNORTH WEST TEAMCornCerealsRiceSoybeanGrapevineApple Oil seed rapeSorghumAlfa alfa Soil-less cultivationHorticultural crops (outdoor & indoor)Small fruitsStrawberrySaffronOrnamental plantsOliveLemonHorticultural cropsBasil

NORTH EAST TEAMFruit trees (stone fruit & pome fruit)Horticultural crops (outdoor & indoor)Legumes Strawberry (indoor & outdoor)GrapevineSugar beetCerealsSoybeanSunflowerTobacco

SOUTH TEAMOliveCitrusTable grapeGrapevineFruit trees (stone fruit)Horticultural crops (indoor & outdoor)PistachioArtichokeStrawberry


14

AGROCHEMICAL TRIALS EQUIPMENT• Motorised knapsack sprayers

• Lances and booms

• Motorised and hydraulic soil corers (30 cm – 100 cm deep)

• 11.000 litres available as freezer area storage for samples

• Freezer cell for samples

• Thermostatic cells for PPP storage

• Plot microgranulator mounted on a plot driller

• Liquid sprayer for in-furrow application mounted on a plot driller

• Stilt sprayer for foliar application on maize (Corn borer, Diabrotica, Helmintosporium, Fusarium)



16

GLP TRIALSWe offer our services according GLP principles. ‘Good Laboratory Practice is a quality system concerned with the organisational process and the conditions under which non-clinical health and environmental safety studies are planned, performed, monitored, recorded, reported and achieved’.

All field stations are GLP compliant and are audited by the relevant national authorities. Application techni-ques are designed to reflect GAP (Good Agricultural Practice).

While stored in our facility, samples are monitored by an alarm control unit and transferred to a test laboratory under suitable conditions by courier.

Our dedicated Study/Project Management Team is able to manage both National projects and multi site studies.



18

RESIDUE STUDIESWe conduct regulatory crop residue studies on all the crops throughout the Italian territory: fruit trees, gra-pevine, industrial crops, horticultural crops - both in open field and under protected conditions. This activity is performed via Plant Protection Products (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, plant growth regulators etc).

This activity is performed in the following types of studies: Magnitude, Decline and Processing of Residues, which are carried out by our own experienced staff.


19

BEHAVIOUR IN SOIL, WATER, AIR & BIOACCUMULATIONAccording to regulatory guidelines the objective of these studies is to evaluate the accumulation or dissipation of a test item in soil under field conditions. Thanks to its trial technical equipment Agricola 2000 can get undisturbed soil core samples at different depths - 30, 50 and 100 cm - and different widths - 2.5, 3.5 or 5 cm.

We are equipped with manual, motorised and hydraulic soil coring equipment.

Such studies are usually performed without crops (bare soil) both under flood and non-flood condi-tions. In paddy rice trials water residue specimens are collected.


20

ROTATIONAL CROP FIELD STUDYAccording OECD 504 Studies on Residues in Rotational Crops (Limited Field Studies) are performed to de-termine the amount of pesticide residues which may be accumulated into rotational crops via soil uptake as a result of realistic agricultural practices. These data may be used to establish crop rotation restrictions, i.e., the time elapsing between the application and the moment when rotational crops can be planted based on residue accumulation in order to provide information and assess the overall significance of residues for dietary risk assessment; this also determines whether maximum residue limits (MRLs) will be needed in ro-tational crops.

DIfferent representative crops fit for rotations and agricultural practice should be tested on each trial site to determine the uptake of residues. The chosen representative crops should fall under one of the three fol-lowing crop categories: root and tuber vegetables, leafy vegetables, small grains (e.g. wheat, barley). An ad-ditional representative crop group might also be included if a rotation-relevant crop is not covered by those crop categories.


21

WORKER EXPOSURE AND RE-ENTRYDuring pest control operations the use of agrochemicals can have adverse impacts on the health of ope-rators, bystanders, workers and residents. A thorough understanding of health risks and legal implications associated with the use of PPP will reduce the prospect of serious consequences. PPP exposure is initially estimated using a computer model and extracting data from toxicological studies. When applying such mo-dels the estimated exposure levels for some PPPs can appear unacceptably high; under these circumstan-ces a controlled field study might be required in order to establish a precise exposure level.

Worker re-entry studies are conducted to establish safe re-entry intervals for workers in several scenarios such as outdoor field activities (e.g. pruning/thinning for orchards or grapevines) or greenhouse activities (e.g. picking/bounding flowers).

Worker exposure studies are performed to evaluate operators’ contamination whilst performing typical ope-rations related to mixing/loading and PPP application.

Sampling techniques include the following:

• Quantitative measurement of dermal and inhalation exposure;

• Exposure distribution (e.g. hands, body, inhalation);

• IOM sampler to capture particulate matter and airborne particles.

Our activity consists in logistic support to CRO to perform re-entry worker exposure and operator exposure studies.

This means that we are able to find suitable farmers and operators to perform this type of studies throughout Italy; moreover, we are involved in monitoring critical phases (e.g. monitored application as field observers) and operate in absence of Test Facility personnel, i.e. our customer.


22

GEP TRIALSAgricola 2000 provides experiments to evaluate the efficacy and selectivity of plant protection products used in agriculture. Such studies are conducted according to specific, internationally recognised guidelines (EPPO, EWRS, CEB). All trials are managed with specific and updated software (ARM 10, FieldPro).

Our technicians are located throughout Italy. Hence, we can cover different areas and crops: ruit trees, gra-pevine, industrial crops, horticultural crops - both in open field and under protected conditions.

The main objective of such trials is to evaluate the efficacy of tested products in controlling pest, as well as their selectivity for crops in place and in succession. Hence, the following parameters must be identified:

• Dose required for pest control;

• Spectrum of controlled pest;

• Safety dosage for the crop;

• Period of application and flexibility;

• Activity duration;

• Performance according to different soils, areas and climate conditions;

• Features of different formulations;

• Comparison with standard;

• Additives / interference with mixtures of current use;

• Side effects;

• Better positioning within agricultural systems;

• Potential carryover risk for substitute or rotational crops.

Choosing the correct test site is crucial in order to get high-quality data. For this reason we fully commit to choosing sites where crops and pest have developed in an even way and where the soil does not display a high variability degree. We avoid trials on field margins. Moreover, we do not perform trials on resistant pest unless specifically required in the protocols. Great attention is paid while arranging blocks and plots on the field to decrease variability. High data quality is needed to get a reliable interpretation.

Trials include the efficacy spectrum of all marketed pesticide and are carried out with natural and artificial infestations.



24

HERBICIDES• Evaluation of efficacy in weed control

• Several time of application: Pre-plant, Pre-emergence, At emergence, Early post emergence, Post emergence

• For each timeframe we use specific equipment (ex. nozzles) for the best treatment in terms of wet-ting and distribution ensuring maximum plot uniformity and conditions as similar as possible to real fields


25

EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT HERBICIDE MIXTURES IN THE CONTROL OF CYPERUS ESCULENTUS IN MAIZE CROP

Two applications were performed: pre-emergence (BBCH00) and early post emergence (BBCH12). The weed target (Cyperus esclulentus) was widely present in the field and homogenously distributed.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

07-mag 12-mag 17-mag 22-mag 27-mag 01-giu

Gro

und

Cov

erag

e %

Weed population on untreated check

CYPES POLPE CHEAL PANDI

50

60

70

80

90

100

07-mag 16-mag 02-giu

Effi

cacy

%

CYPES Efficacy Control

2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5 Test 6 Ref 7 Ref


26

INSECTICIDES, ACARICIDES & NEMATICIDES• Trials concerning the control of target pest by monitoring insect populations to define an exact ap-

plication timing

• Trials include: systemic, contact and ingestion insecticides, ovicide and larvicide treatments, gra-nular and liquid soil insecticides

• Agricola 2000 performs field trials on crop nematodes - both open field and indoor


27

EFFICACY OF INSECTICIDE PRODUCTS AGAINST 2ND GENERATION OF EUROPEAN CORN BORER (OSTRINIA NUBILALIS) IN MAIZE

The application was carried out at the peak of adult flight; the curve of flight was monitored by a black li-ght trap in the neighborhood. Maize was at BBCH 67 (male flowering completed and female stigmata were drying).

Insecticide products were applied using a stilt sprayer tractor-mounted Castrix, with a boom with 5 nozzles.

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

30-Jul 24-Aug

Pla

nts

dam

aged

%

Damaged plants

Check Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Ref1 Ref2

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

STEM EAR TOTAL

Num

ber

of la

rvae

(n.)

Number of larvae

Check Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Ref1 Ref2


28

FUNGICIDESTrials take place during a crop production cycle with continuous vegetative growth and cycles of in-fection (primary and secondary). A timely intervention can be preventive, curative or eradicative. In collaboration with the pathology department of the University of Milan we can offer different inoculum types to ensure a greater and homogeneous presence of the disease.

Different kind of trials can be performed:

• Foliar application

• Soil/root (drip irrigation, drenching)

• Seed treatment (seed dressing)

• Post harvest


29

EVALUATION OF FUNGICIDAL EFFICACY OF TEST PRODUCT AGAINST SOIL BORNE FUNGI IN EGGPLANT CULTIVATED UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

Fungicide products were performed in drench application before transplanting and in drip irrigation during the cultivation of the crop.

0

2

4

6

8

30-mag 13-giu 27-giu 10-lug 18-lug

Dea

d pl

atns

%

Dead plants due to Fusarium sp.

Appl A Appl B Appl C1 Test 2 Ref 3 Check

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

30-mag 13-giu 27-giu 25-lug 09-agoInci

denc

e o

f des

ease

%

Incidence of Verticillium sp.

Appl A Appl B Appl C

1 Test 2 Ref 3 Check

01234567

29-mag 30-mag 13-giu 27-giu 25-lug 09-agoSev

erity

of d

esea

se %

Severity of Verticillium sp.

Appl A Appl B Appl C


90

95

100

105

110

115

Yield (Kg/treatments)

%. C

heck

=10

0%

YIELD



30

BIOSTIMULANTS & GROWTH REGULATORSWe evaluate the efficacy of biostimulants and plant grow regulators through quantitative and qualita-tive assessment, yield increase, health and vigour, as well as plant growth homogeneity. The produce is sampled to ensure quality increase and evaluate organoleptic and nutritional features. Analyses on pollution residue, multi-residual and heavy metal content can also be used to certify yield quality and the good results obtained via the alternative or integrative use of biostimulants - alone or with PPPs.


31

EFFICACY AND SELECTIVITY OF DIFFERENT BIO-STIMULANT PRODUCTS ON TOMATO TO CHECK THE YIELD AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT COMPARED TO THE LOCAL REFERENCES

0123456789

10

Check Test1 Test2 Ref1 Ref2

N°/

10 p

lant

s

Number of flowers

Flower cluster 1 Flower cluster 2 Flower cluster 3

01234567


N°/

10 p

lant

s

Number of fruits

Fruit cluster 1 Fruit cluster 2 Fruit cluster 3

65

67

69

71

73

75


Inde

x/10

pla

nts

Nitrogen Balance Index, chlorophyll/flavonoids

Nitrogen Balance Index, chlorophyll/flavonoids

3,5

3,7

3,9

4,1

4,3

4,5


Deg

ree/

10 p

lant

s

°Brix

Brix

130

135

140

145

150

155

160

165


N°/

10 p

lant

s

Number of fruits

Number of fruits

15

16

17

18

19

20

21


kg/1

0 pl

ants

Yield: total weight

Weight


32

CROP SELECTIVITYCrop selectivity is performed via field assessment, drone assessment (see UAV section), yield evalua-tion and qualitative parameters of the produce.


33

SELECTIVITY EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT HERBICIDE PRODUCTS APPLIED IN PRE- AND POST-TRAN-SPLANT ON MELON

Symptoms of chlorosis, necrosis and stunting were observed on the plots treated with Test 2, 3, 4. About phytotoxicity a dose response was observed as well as the occurring of an highest damage when Test 4 was applied in post-transplanting.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Check Ref Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4

Phy

toto

xici

ty %

Herbicide Selectivity on Melon

PHYCHL PHYNEC PHYSTU

02468

1012141618

Check Ref Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4

kg/p

lot

Yield

Harvest 1 Harvest 2 Harvest 3

LEGENDA

Ref Commercial referenceTest Test itemPHYCHL phytotoxicity - chlorosisPHYNEC phytotoxicity - necrosis / burnPHYSTU phytotoxicity - stunting


34

CROP SCREENING In collaboration with the Seed Department, Agricola 2000 can perform trials with different randomised varieties to evaluate their response to a different dosage of plant protection products.


35

VARIETY TRIALS FOR ALL THE NEW TEST PRODUCT

Evaluation of the selectivity of different herbicide products applied in post-emergence on different maize commercial hybrids.

• N° of hybrids: 10

• N° Treatments: 11

• Gross plot area: 34 m2

• Treated plot are: 20 m2 (14 m2 left as adjacent Untreated Check)

• Application timing BBCH 18 (8 leaves unfolded)

T1 P6 T7 P3 T6 P1 T 5 P5 T11 P8 T10 P2 T2 P5 T11 P7 T7 P10 T10 P9 T8 P4

T4 P1 T10 P4 T11 P6 T8 P2 T2 P7 T4 P9 T1 P10 T9 P9 T1 P3 T6 P8 T7 P5






T1 P8 T2 P9 T7 P2 T1 P7 T11 P3 T3 P5 T 10 P1 T9 P4 T6 P9 T7 P6 T5 P10



0,00

5,00

10,00

15,00

t/ha

Hybrid 1 Yield (t/ha)

1 Check 2 test 3 test 4 test 5 test 6 test7 test 8 test 9 Ref1 10 Ref2 11 Ref3

LEGENDA

Ref Commercial referenceTest Test itemCheck Untreated check


36

SEED CARE Thanks to its experimental machines Agricola 2000 can perform field trials and test the efficacy and selectivity of seed dressing, i.e. granular or liquid products applied while sowing. This can be done directly in the furrow or through broadcasting.

As far as seed dressing trials are concerned, we use specific machineries operating with different seed quantities - from a few grammes to large quantities (more than 100kg).


37

EFFICACY OF LIQUID AND GRANULAR INSECTICIDE APPLIED AT SOWING AGAINST DIABROTICA VIRGI-FERA ON MAIZE

The field trial was carried out in order to evaluate the efficacy of Test 2 (granular product) and Test 3 (liquid product) in comparison with the reference product, Test 4 (seed dressing product).

Both the granular and the liquid soil insecticides were applied in the sowing furrow thanks to a plot drilling machine equipped with micro-granuler spreader and liquid low volume sprayer.

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

Check Granular Liquid Seed Dressing

scal

e 0-

3

Root Damage

SCALE IOWA 0-3

0

5

10

15

20

25

Check Granular Liquid Seed Dressing

%

Goose neck lodging plants

Goose neck lodging plants


38

RESISTANCE INSURANCE Monitoring and studies on weed resistance to herbicides.


39

STUDY AND EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT TEST HERBICIDE MIXTURE COMPARED TO STANDARDS IN THE CONTROL OF SORGHUM HALEPENSE WITH PROVED RESISTANCE TO SULPHONYLUREAS IN MAIZE CROP

The field of the trial has been sowed for years with maize and in the last 4 years, the farmer has problem with Sorghum resistance to sulphonylureas due to the continuous use of these molecules.

Severe problems of weed management occur year after year and even after 2 application of Glyphosate, in autumn and early spring, the infestation of Johnson’s grass from seed and, in less amount, from rhizome was still very high and homogeneous all over the trial.

The application was carried out at the crop stage of 5 true leaves unfolded (BBCH 15).

0

20

40

60

80

100

venerdì 21 giugno 2013 venerdì 5 luglio 2013 venerdì 19 luglio 2013

% g

roun

d co

ver

Weeds population

SORHA ABUTH

0

20

40

60

80

100

venerdì 21 giugno 2013 venerdì 5 luglio 2013 venerdì 19 luglio 2013

% e

ffica

cyEfficacy on Sorghum halepense

Test1 Test2 Test3 Test4 Test5

Test6 Test7 Test8 Test9

LEGENDA

Ref Commercial referenceTest Test item


40

DEMO-TRIALS & TECHNICAL WORKSHOPAgricola 2000 organises demo trials to promote new plant protection products and to keep agronomists, te-chnicians and farmers abreast of the latest and best techniques for crop protection. Agricola 2000 can offer its clients demo trials in different areas to sponsor their new commercial products.

Technical workshops are organised in collaboration with the University of Milan, Turin and other specialists in order to increase the technical knowledge of technicians, students, agronomists and all agricultural ope-rators. Hence, they can be updated in terms of innovation and emerging issues.

Such activities aim at enhancing market penetration in Italy and Spain:

• Market analysis

• Identification and involvement of agricultural undertakings and opinion leaders

• Scientific translations for catalogues, brochures, presentation slides and any information materials for consultants, final consumers and distributors

• Involvement of opinion leaders such as technicians and professors as testimonials

• Visits to demonstration fields with workshops, buffet and video (drone)

• Legal and economic management assistance for businesses interested in working in Spain via a renowned legal firm based in Mataró (Barcelona)

Agricola 2000 has worked with the University of Turin (DISAFA) since 2014 to create DEMO corn and soybean fields displaying different herbicide solutions. Such cooperation came from the need to find new techniques and sustainable solutions to protect crops pursuant to the latest European and national directives on sustai-nable use of plant protection products. Twenty-five thesis were analysed and compared evaluating selecti-vity, efficacy, yield and quality.



42

REGULATORY AFFAIRSAgricola 2000 has a team of experts and consultants who can fully manage your registration procedure for a new Plant Protection Product in Europe. We meet your needs by providing competent and flexible regulatory and scientific expertise to ensure that your product gets registered. Our full range of services includes initial data gap analyses and dossier preparation, as well as risk assessment, expert statements and dossier de-fence. Furthermore, we also provide support in devising development strategies for your active substances and preparations.

Thanks to our experts and our substantial collaborative network we can support all process phases: study and evaluation of product Toxicology, Eco-toxicology and Environmental Fate, issuance of a Biological As-sessment Dossier (BAD), selection of trials and the best business cases to support your requested use by defining the terms of efficacy, selectivity and yield performance.

Moreover, thanks to its residue studies on crops as well as on harvested and processed products, Agricola 2000 can perform a Dietary Risk Assessment.

Agricola 2000 can manage not only Chemical active ingredients but also Micro-biological and Botanical sub-stances taking into account their peculiarities.

Our expertise allows us to offer reliable support in writing your Comparative Assessment and Substitution of PPP according to EPPO guidelines ( PP1/271 (1)) and DG SANCO 11507/2013 guidelines. As a matter of fact, Regulation No 1107 of 2009 introduced a Comparative Assessment and Substitution (CA) aiming at reducing risk by replacing products with further methods and products causing lesser concern. This would contribute to greater protection of human and animal health as well as the environment while minimizing the economic and practical drawbacks for agriculture.


43

BIOSTIMULATNTS & FERTILIZERS REGISTRATIONThanks to the recent opening of a new base in Spain, actually Agricola 2000 can offer a service of registration of fertilisers, biostimulants and Biological control agents to the Spanish Authorities, completing the service with the possibility of translation of all the documents.

Fertiliser register including some types of biostimulants listed under ANEXO I of Royal Decree No 506 of 2013 in force. The offered service consists in consultancy and compilation of the Technical Data Sheet for product data disclosed by the manufacturer subject to prior confidentiality agreement. This also involves a translation into Spanish for all application documents to be attached, including CoA, a Description of the Manufacturing process and MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet.

Register of particular methods of pest management such as Biological Control Agents, Traps and other Me-ans or Monitoring Devices pursuant to Royal Decree No 951 of 2014 in force. The provided service includes consulting and the compilation of a Modelo de comunicación for product data disclosed by the manufacturer subject to prior confidentiality agreement and a translation into Spanish for all application documents to be attached.

Request sent to the Spanish Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente demanding the ap-plication of Mutual Recognition, as per the aforementioned Royal Decrees under Disposición adicional. This service includes consulting, the compilation of a Request to be submitted to the Ministry, translations into Spanish for the Application sent to the competent Ministry of the country where the product was registered and a MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet. Mutual recognition applies only when the relevant product has previously been registered in a Member State of the European Community and it does not undergo any chan-ge while entering the Spanish market (label, composition, etc).

Should customers request it, the aforementioned applications can be submitted directly to the premises of the Spanish Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente in Madrid.


44

SEED SERVICES ................................................................................................................... 45TRIAL PLOT EQUIPMENT .............................................................................................. 47SEED PRODUCTION EQUIPMENTS ............................................................................. 49VARIETY & AGRONOMICAL TRIALS .............................................................................. 51

FIELD DESIGN AND SET UP .................................................................................. 53ASSESSMENT, HARVESTING & SAMPLING ........................................................... 55

ASSISTANCE TO BREEDING ......................................................................................... 57SEED PRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 59OFFICIAL VARIETY LISTING ........................................................................................... 61CROP MONITORING ..................................................................................................... 62


45

SEED SERVICES An articulated and dynamic experimental activity is essential to test several species varieties under all climatic, environmental and weather conditions. Experimentation is necessary in order to precisely assess the productivity of new genotypes and their adaptability.


46

Plant-environment interactions play an important role in the development and growth of any plant species. Selecting the right place to perform such tests is crucial. Hence, our company offers several locations with different climates in order to provide the right environmental conditions to boost the productivity, morpho-logical features and adaptability of the cultivated plant variety. Such activity is carried out by setting up test plots.

Prompt interventions are crucial to plot testing in order to minimise variations as far as different environmen-tal conditions are concerned. Seeding is a glaring example: if the materials to be tested are sown in different environments, the advantage deriving from precocity is mitigated. Agricola 2000 has different seeding teams with tractors and plot seeders. Hence, it can guarantee rapid and precise seeding. A company lorry guaran-tees our displacement punctuality and full flexibility, as well as effective work management.

Agricola 2000 always utilises cutting-edge equipment, materials and methods related to research and testing in agriculture. It acts as a partner for many public and private bodies, with whom it annually shares the results of its varietal trials on the Italian territory. Some examples include:

• CREA with which we actively take part in field phases by developing trials on winter cereals, sorghum and maize at a national level;

• The University of Milan and Turin with which we test new farming techniques, assessment methods, re-sistance and adaptability of genetic materials in different environments.


47

TRIAL PLOT EQUIPMENT• Drello seed counter MZ 3000 for semi-automatic seed bagging required to set up trial plots. It is equipped

with an optical counter and automatically fills the bags

• Planters for scenarios requiring precision seeding:

• Pneumatic planter GASPARDO MT 4 ROWS with seed plates distanced 0.70 m for any type of soil - especially with skeleton and for not excessively refined tillage

• Pneumatic planter GASPARDO SP 520 with drill coulters distanced 0.70 m for fine tillage

• Pneumatic planter GASPARDO SP 520 with drill coulters distanced 0.50 m for fine tillage

• Planters for scenarios not requiring precision seeding:

• Mechanical planter GASPARDO SA 480 with drill coulters distanced 0.70 m

• Mechanical planter VIGNOLI with drill coulters at variable distances starting from 0.14 m

• Plot combines Laverda 3300 for maize with Almaco Seedspector weighing system to determine moistu-re, grain weight and electrolytic weight. This feature allows users to quickly complete the harvesting; if necessary a homogeneous grain sample for each parcel can be obtained

• Plot combines HEGE 125C for cereals and legumes used for small-grain cereals (wheat, barley and triti-cale), grain sorghum, soybean and peas. The produced grain must be sampled in a laboratory to deter-mine moisture and electrolytic weight

• Kubota rice plot combines: For rice cultivation - given the soil conditions under which it is cultivated plot combines with crawler tracks are needed: Kubota Skyroad G1 and Kubota Skyroad ACE. The produced grain must be sampled in a laboratory to determine moisture and electrolytic weight

• Shredder Kemper Champion 1200 for silage tests (maize, sorghum, winter cereals, etc.) Once the product is obtained, it is instantly weighed on a scale positioned on the machine frame. Samples are needed to determine moisture and dry substance content

• Dickey John GAC 2100 to measure the sample moisture percentage and its electrolytic weight post har-vest; the device is certified and calibrated annually

• Dryer 600 Vismara - electric fan dryers that reduce the water content of any type of material without alte-ring any sample characteristics. Its temperature can be adjusted according to the material and the nature of the sample (40°C for silage, 70°C to determine grain electrolytic weight)

• Ear dryer used to dry ear material and preserve product germinability. Equipped with gas burner. Its hi-gh-flow forced ventilation system ensures a homogeneous drying process even on large material volumes



49

SEED PRODUCTION EQUIPMENTS• Mechanical detasselers CASTRIX with mechanical cutting and tearing bars for emasculation on hybrid

maize seed production fields

• Picker NEW IDEA 705 for ear harvesting: it harvests full ears with high moisture content to preserve seed germinability

• Husk stripping and sorting machine N’Haux for visual selection of harvested ears; it removes any off-type or waste material and separates the bracts from maize spikes before drying

• Ear loading, unloading and transport system to easily handle the harvested material

• 150-m3-wide ears dryer with 7 separate cells: used to dry ear material and preserve product germina-bility. Equipped with gas burner. Its high-flow forced ventilation system ensures a homogeneous drying process even on large material volumes

• Electric axial sheller to shell dried ears minimising grain fractures and preserving high germinability Easy to clean; it reduces seed contamination

• Seed selection plant consisting of a calibrator with indent cylinders: it removes extraneous matters and impurities from the grain and divides it according to its size; winnower with vertical air foil for the final removal of dust and chaff from the grain; densimetric table to separate good-quality seed from waste according to its specific weight

• Seed treater with continuous auger automatically dispensing the treating agent

• Pneumatic bagging scale with stapler and labelling machine



51

VARIETY & AGRONOMICAL TRIALSWe perform research activities on public and private developed cultivars of corn, corn silage, soybean, grain sorghum, silage sorghum, wheat, barley, sunflower, triticale, summer and winter annual forage during every crop year. Such research is conducted in every geographic region of Italy to collect agronomic data.

These two activities can be distinguished through the applied comparison method:

• Varietal comparisons put different genetic materials belonging to the same species/genus in the same environment, study their behaviour in terms of production, vegetative productivity and phenotype while comparing them to known materials (testers);

• Agronomic tests compare one or more genetic materials belonging to the same species/genus when agronomic and/or agro-technical factors change, thus enhancing their productive potential.



53

FIELD DESIGN AND SET UPIn order to maintain high-quality standards, an internal company protocol was developed to enhance test characteristics:

• Search for suitable test locations, thus fully enhancing both productivity and the environment without neglecting customer’s geographical indications;

• First survey to check the conditions of the test field and analyse factors such as homogeneity, plot squa-ring, length and width measurements, position of the ditches;

• Setting up field schemes and test placement based on data obtained from the survey previously carried out;

• Seed bagging may vary in number depending on the crop to be evaluated and on the size of single plots;

• Setting fields up based on the information contained in our field scheme files;

• Pre-seeding field preparation by squaring the test plot (height and width with right angles) using chalk to mark the start and finish line of the seeding itself (the lower and upper parts of the field are perpendicular to the seeding direction);

• Seeding via precision or mechanical plot seeders depending on the crop;

• During crop cycles our technicians are appointed basing on their experience in terms of reference cultu-res: they ensure crop efficiency from a health and nutrition viewpoint. The tests are labelled with wooden stakes hence respecting the environment, and they are monitored to ensure that there is no competition with weeds via specific weeding.

Here is a brief list of plot structuring standards for major cultures:

• Maize: 2, 4, 8 or more rows distanced 0,70 m and 6, 12, 18 or 24 m long;

• Small-grain cereals: 8 rows distanced 0.18 m and 7 m long or longer;

• Biomass or grain sorghum: 4 rows distanced 0.50 m and 7 m long or longer;

• Mow sorghum: 8 rows distanced 0.20 m and 7 m long or longer;

• Sunflower and soybean: 4 rows distanced 0.50 m and 7 m long or longer;

• Horticultural crops: plots are set up according to customer requirements and varieties;



55

ASSESSMENT, HARVESTING & SAMPLINGA clear, comprehensive and accurate assessment protocol is crucial to ensure an overall good quality level of the trial process. Hence, in addition to field set-up protocols a further one for data collection was drafted too.

Crop surveys are performed during all crop development phases according to customer requirements. Typi-cal surveys are summarised in the following table.

Plot trials are collected using dedicated equipment according to each crop, such as plot choppers and grain tests. In order to get reliable product data, the experimental trial collection always covers the central part of the plot.

The harvested materials are sampled together with field trial collection. According to the yielded culture dif-ferent types of products can be obtained:

• Full chopped material: the sample weights > 1 kg and is contained in a perforated bag; it is weighed wet and electrically heated for 48 hours at a temperature of 45° C (to avoid degrading proteins, etc.). The same sample is ‘turned and mixed’ at least 3 times a day so that there is no time for moulding. Once dri-ed, it is weighted again in order to determine crop moisture %. It is then stored and shipped for analysis in order to determine quality parameters

• Grains: the sample weights 0.5 kg to >1 kg and can be contained in a paper bag (0.5 kg) or in a plastic net bag (1.5 kg). After harvesting both bags are placed in an oven at 75° C for about 5 days. After drying the sample is ready for the electrolytic weight assessment with a GAC

The final phase of plot trials is represented by a report containing all data collected during the growing sea-son as well as productive data and a relevant statistical analysis.


56

CO

RN

GR

AIN

S

OR

GH

UM

RIC

E

WH

EAT

TR

ITIC

ALE

BA

RLE

Y

SIL

AG

E

SO

RG

HU

M

FO

RA

GE

S

OR

GH

UM

SO

YB

EA

N

SU

N-

FLO

WE

R

PLANT COUNT

PLANT HEIGHT

COB HEIGHT

LODGING

N° BROKEN PLANTS

THICKNESS

COLD DAMAGES

HEADING

VIGOUR

DISEASES

RIPENESS DATE

FLOWERING DATE

SPECIFIC WEIGHT

TGW

BIOMASS

HEAD SIZE

COLOUR

TILLERING

LEAF ANGLE

PANICLE EMERGENCE

INSECTPEST DAMAGES

STERILITY

BIRD DAMAGES

COMBINE CHARACTER

PANICLE SHAPE

PANICLE DIMENSION

OFF-TYPE PLANTS

N° PLANTS/PLOT


57

ASSISTANCE TO BREEDINGThe art of discerning relevant differences in plant materials to select the best types, artificial manipulation of genetic variability to direct populations towards a specific objective and science to change and improve plants in subsequent generations were defined as genetic improvement of agricultural plants.

Since the transfer of Agricola 2000 Breeding Departments, seed companies have been supported by a well established structure to manage their genetic improvement programmes.

The plots devoted to nursery activities are chosen with great care and in terms of irrigation they are flawlessly managed via water distribution systems and nutrients through localised irrigation (hose). This system allows to work anytime - even while irrigating - without impeding or straining the staff dedicated to pollination.

Our technicians are highly skilled and follow every step relating to seeding, pollination, harvesting, drying and shelling by autonomously managing the entire production process according to the plan drafted by the customer.

Our equipment allows us to finish harvesting in time for winter planting.

Several kinds of crossing schemes can be achieved:

• self-pollination;

• cross-pollination (simple or complex);

• sib-pollination;

• bulk-pollination;

• top cross;

• special requirements can be met during consultations.



59

SEED PRODUCTIONMaintaining purity during seed production means paying great attention to field isolation, field inspection and equipment sanitation. All efforts are made to prevent off-type seeds and plants from contaminating production fields or seed lots. Complete documentation for every phase of the production cycle enables our production staff to accurately track each hybrid from planting to bagging.

Agricola 2000 seed production service was set up in 2008 following to several years of experience with the leading seed companies. Today our company offers a seed production and reproduction service following a strict tillage protocol.

First, the correct location must be found and great attention is paid to complying with directives issued by ENSE (National Seed Certification Institute - Ente Nazionale per le Sementi Elette). Seedings are made accor-ding to different timeframes and following customer’s directions; based on the characteristics of the mate-rials to be reproduced they are handled by internal technicians using fully owned equipment. Activities such as preserving nutritional conditions and culture protection are monitored daily and autonomously managed.

Throughout the production seed purity is guaranteed by operations performed with manual steps to remove off-type materials while lifting or using mechanical detasselers. Their quality does not change even during harvesting and drying thanks to the optical sorting and mechanical screening of the obtained materials. The reproduced seed are definitively treated and packaged according to sponsor’s provisions and are nationally certified.

Agricola 2000 offers seed production for corn and soybean - from field seeding to commercial bags.

Suitable locations for hybrid maize production are placed within the Po Valley, whereas soybean seed pro-duction exploits the areas between East Lombardy and Veneto.

To date, Agricola 2000 can certify seed production for soybean and maize crops.



61

OFFICIAL VARIETY LISTINGThe national plant variety registration service allows you to enter your own varieties or hybrids to be able to market them as certified seed across the EU.

On customer’s behalf our company follows all relevant stages - from submitting your application to the is-suance of the registration certificate; should your registration be successful, trials last for two years.

The provided service includes:

• Submitting your application to the Ministry of Agriculture;

• Entering your legal and technical descriptive documentation into the Ministry portal;

• Requesting an authorisation for import and customs clearance for seed samples coming from abroad (duly licensed seed) and delivery to the competent body to perform the trials;

• Inspection of descriptive and agronomic trials to detect any anomalies or problems;

• Communication between Ministry and customer;

• Confirmation of registration in the national and European registry.


62

CROP MONITORINGThe seed department can offer a monitoring service for European corn borer (Ostinia nubilalis) affecting mai-ze as a pathogen that positively influences the proliferation of pathogenic fungi on ears, hence depreciating its harvest.

We currently have 3 electrically powered black light traps which attract nocturnal insects via luminescent lamps and suction blowers. Furthermore, 3 battery-powered traps with luminescent lamps can be positioned in places with no available power connection.

Every day early in the morning all insects caught during the night are removed. Once such bags are received by our entomologists, they can identify the ‘target’ species (Ostrinia nubilalis) by counting males and females separately. A report is then filled out and sent to the customer daily; this allows them to draw a population growth curve in order to precisely assess the most suitable moment for an on-site chemical intervention.

In addition to such adult counting, egg masses are counted daily as well. Counting the number of egg mas-ses helps estimate the species reproductive potential and predict the attack level to be expected from next generations.

As far as egg masses detection is concerned, we count not the number of eggs but the number of egg mas-ses on the leaf surfaces - more specifically, on the first two leaves below and above the spike.

The number of egg masses is counted according to a block diagram in order to get representative data for the plot.


63

EUROPEAN CORN BORER MONITORING AND SUBSEQUENT DETECTION OF BEST TIME FOR INSECTICI-DE EFFICACIOUS APPLICATION

0

20

40

60

80

100

18-Jul-13 02-Aug-13 17-Aug-13 01-Sep-13

European corn borer adult catches

Application Rain Male Female

0

1

2

3

4

5

18-Jul-13 02-Aug-13 17-Aug-13 01-Sep-13

European corn borer eggs (average)

Eggs average


64

AGROTECH DEPARTMENT .................................................................................................. 65VEGETATIVE INDEX MAPS ............................................................................................ 66ENHANCED TRIAL ASSESSMENT ................................................................................ 68PLOT QUALITY REPORT & PLANT COUNT ................................................................... 70TERRITORY MONITORING ........................................................................................... 72PROFESSIONAL SHOOTING & VIDEOS ..................................................................... 74


65

AGROTECH DEPARTMENT Coupling information theory with agronomic and natural sciences is the key point to provide our customers with a fast, responsive and cost-effective service.

Young information technologists have been integrated into Agricola 2000 agronomic experience: this led to the creation of a new department whose activity is run alongside the ones performed in all other departments.


66

VEGETATIVE INDEX MAPS Drones are most commonly used in the environmental and agronomic sectors to calculate NDVI maps. As a matter of fact, such tools reduce the cost of producing a single map in comparison to satellite products and allow its repetition during entire study periods.

To date we can calculate the following map types:

• GreenNDVI and RedNDVI maps for biomass concentration and photosynthetic activity assessment;

• MSAVI maps, i.e. an evolution of NDVI maps, for crops whose development does not generally cover the whole field;

• Segmentation maps to identify the percentage of land cover or the spreading percentage for a specific crop type;

• Phytotoxic effect assessment;

• Vigour assessment.



68

ENHANCED TRIAL ASSESSMENT Non-invasive surveys by UAV enables us to collect some data that would not be available on site and to streamline activities usually performed on site by field technicians.

Furthermore, thanks to GIS software our experts can cross-reference aerial pictures with field schemes and data collected by our field technicians, hence creating a bundle of raw data that can be turned into precious information or simply used to set up a readable map.

• Data analysis processes: basing on project requirements a working protocol is drafted - it aims at generating a valuable result for our customers; it determines a useful area unit and the type of sta-tistical analysis (maximum, minimum, mode, average, variance) to be calculated on the examined surface

• Plot study maps: by digitalising field schemes and subsequently superimposing them onto the produced maps the information can be divided according to individual surfaces; this approach is essential in the experimental practice because it enables the application of single elaborations on a map part, hence minimising relevant variables

• Classification and scoring maps: data is broken down into classes with a quantile approach or a uniform range approach; this results in a score associated to each of them and hence the single plots can be assessed


69

PHYTOTOXICITY SCREENING THROUGH UAV SURVEY ON SORGHUM TRIAL FIELD

In order to investigate the phytotoxicity on the crop, it was measured GreenNDVI index at one timing of crop season.

Data were grouped into 5 classes of equally numerous subsets, representing the rate intensity of the green. The 5 classes were LOW, MID-LOW, MID, MID-HIGH and HIGH. For each plot, the area belonging to each class was calculated and the information about the greening of the plot was aggregated in a single value.

0

20

40

60

80

100

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8

HYBRID 5

Foliar Phytotoxicity NDVI score

0

20

40

60

80

100

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8

HYBRID 6

Foliar Phytotoxicity NDVI score


70

PLOT QUALITY REPORT & PLANT COUNTIn the experimentation world an estimate derived from a mathematical regression model is not always ac-ceptable; this resulted in drafting a dynamic working protocol that allows us to adapt the counting algorithm basing on single cases: physical characteristics of the plant (colour, size, height), field structure, plot sowing scheme.

• Foliar development: through an image-guided segmentation algorithm we can estimate foliar develop-ment; these are estimates because the foliar insertion angle is not considered

• Plant counting: through a set of high-resolution photographs and an image-guided classification process we provide counts of a given surface with an error margin of 3% covering both false positives and nega-tives

• Plant height: other than with a 3D surface model and a soil model, the exact height mode within a given plot can be calculated

• Plot Quality Report: a mix of the three aforementioned assessment methods complemented by a verifica-tion process performed by an operator to remove false positives or integrate false negatives; it allows us to create a detailed, objective and verifiable report relating to the collected informationa


71

COMPUTERISED PLANTS COUNT BASED ON ULTRA HIGH RESOLUTION RGB MAP• 30 minutes of flight for 0,2 cm/px survey on 1 ha area

• Ultra high definition map builded through High Performance Computing system

• Severals spectrum samples of surface were manualy detected as training input for the classification software

• Through a supervised image classification algorithm and a geospatial filter plants were detected, isolated and converted in geospatial objects on the map

• Through a second geospatial filter plants cointained in each plot were enumerated and counted


72

TERRITORY MONITORING Visual assessment of the area of interest in order to detect relevant land changes.

Photogrammetry techniques allow us to build an orthophoto mosaic of all surfaces as well as a cor-responding 3D model to perform measurements of spatial magnitudes such as surface, width and volume.

• Cadastral survey: our aircrafts equipped with high-precision satellite antenna performs photogram-metric surveys with a position error of about 50 cm. The resulting photo mosaic can be checked against a geo-referenced digital cadastral grating. By cross-referencing these two maps a photo-in-terpretation can be carried out to determine the cadastral category and the intended use

• Surface models for spatial measurements (glaciers, rock masses, landslides, etc): 3D models can be built by triangulating the points of interest; they faithfully represent the reality, so spatial mea-surements with decimetre or sub-decimetre accuracy can be performed depending on the sensors used and on flight altitude


73

CADASTRAL SURVEY FOR RURAL AREA REGENERATION PROJECT• 3 hours UAV survey with RGB camera on abandoned rural area

• 6 ground control points for second level georectification and cadastral map overlap

• Final report of site area inclusive of area calculation and classified map

28 forestry 7.916,71129 horchard 2.979,31229 reforestation 115,19729 water 237,39829 forestry 6.758,18430 horchard 843,34730 reforestation 23.682,03830 forestry 351,14631 reforestation 3.782,98131 forestry 29,80131 fields 6.460,33333 reforestation 2,43833 water 570,93033 forestry 4.315,11433 fields 2.287,09234 reforestation 8,00634 forestry 1.479,46234 fields 164,01435 horchard 73,46435 reforestation 50,96635 forestry 1.298,40636 rice 270,56536 forestry 296,81336 fields 158,000


74

PROFESSIONAL SHOOTING & VIDEOS Thanks to our extensive contact network we can provide professional video footage and photo shoots - both on the ground and aerial.

As a matter of fact, our operators and our means enable us to transport a variety of imaging devices to offer a wide range of services:

• High-resolution aerial photographs

• Photo mosaics for large areas

• Panorama photographs

• High-altitude/panorama videos



76

PROJECTS & CONSULTING ................................................................................................. 77CONSULTING TO CREATE BUSINESS NETWORKS ..................................................... 78CONSULTING FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT IN RDP................................................ 79URBAN FORESTRY ........................................................................................................ 80TRAINING COURSES ..................................................................................................... 81


77

PROJECTS & CONSULTING


78

CONSULTING TO CREATE BUSINESS NETWORKSA Business Network is an agreement formalised in a ‘Network Agreement’. It is based on business coopera-tion, exchange and aggregation and it represents an alternative business model compared to the individua-listic and fragmented one typical of our economic fabric.

The main purpose of such Business Networks is to achieve common goals to increase innovation capacity and hence company competitiveness.

Agricola 2000 operates as a consultant able to share experiences as well as existing technical and commer-cial information. It can develop integrated projects aimed at increasing innovation and competitiveness for its members.

As a matter of fact, Business Networks can be considered as a valid tool for SMEs to safeguard their indi-viduality by reaching a critical mass that would allow them to compete on a global scale. They would then create value for the company itself but also for the area where it operates.

The main activities carried out by the company are:

• Coordination for business network implementation

• Partner coordination for good network management

• Scientific and technical partner (agronomic environmental sector)

• Search for funding instruments relating to business networks

• Secretarial and administrative management


79

CONSULTING FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT IN RDPFor over 20 years Agricola 2000 has provided companies with support in applying for regional calls relating to rural development programmes. The main reasons for this are to be identified in the need to create a bun-dle of services including training, information, innovation transfer and animation to support businesses; this should be made available to the agricultural and regional forest systems. Thanks to its staff Agricola 2000 can provide the necessary support to achieve new development models for the industry: competitiveness, multi-functionality and environmental sustainability are the main landmarks.

The main activities carried out by the company are:

• Partner search

• Feasibility studies

• Project drafting and presentation

• Dealing with bodies and institutions

• Project coordination and reporting

• Scientific and technological partner (Research and Technology Transfer Centre accredited by Questio)


80

URBAN FORESTRYAgricola 2000 is a reference point for a range of management and maintenance services for parks, gardens and street trees. From plant census to phytosanitary check-ups, Agricola 2000 can provide both Public Au-thorities and private citizens with professional assistance.

In particular, we point out the importance of tree stability controls also via VTA method. (Visual Tree Asses-sment). It consist in an instrumental examination of arboreal plants run after a visual assessment showed or hinted at structural defects regarding collar, trunk and crown. This way each tree will be assigned a risk class and therefore a degree of danger.

The Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) method is organised into three stages:

• visual inspection of defects and vitality: the inspection is carried out taking into account the morphology, physiology and biomechanical characteristics of the plant;

• defect identification: in some cases a visual assessment must be followed by an instrumental one to evaluate any woody tissue damage (percussion with a traditional hammer and subsequent use of a Re-sistograph);

• residual wall thickness dimensioning: it quantifies and positions any ‘anomalies’ (wounds, cavities) de-tected with the instrumental assessment.


81

TRAINING COURSESAgricola 2000 aims at developing a broad range of services to farmers and urban forestry operators, hence promoting lifelong training activities and technical advice.

In the context of pest management, in 2009 the European Commission passed a set of rules on the use of plant protection products. As a result, training has become an essential precondition for the sustainable management of plant protection products (PPPs ), as explicitly stated under the European Directive No 128 of 2009 (transposed in Italy with a National Action Plan): ‘the training shall be designed to ensure that such users, distributors and consultant acquire sufficient knowledge taking account of their different roles and responsibilities’.

In partnership with leading Training Centres our company organises courses and issues Certificates of Com-petence to purchase and use PPPs (formerly phytosanitary certificates). In particular, the experience gained in recent years as Test Facility allows us to integrate theoretical knowledge of the subjects covered by the training with visual and practical experience on sustainable PPP use. Thus, for refresher courses only we can award up to a maximum of 50% of the needed training credits.


Documents

THE COMPANY 2 - Agricola · PDF fileTHE COMPANY..... 2 WHO WE ARE & OUR HISTORY ... (stone fruit & pome fruit) Horticultural crops (outdoor & indoor) Legumes Strawberry (indoor & outdoor)