Rice Farmer Bets on Nature for Biodiversity Resilience

Four centuries after monks introduced rice cultivation to Italy's marshlands, farmer Alice Cerutti has undertaken a significant renaturalization project. She has restored approximately one-third of her 110-hectare farm in the Vercelli plain, dedicating 25 hectares to wetlands and native woodlands. This initiative aims to counter the agricultural crisis exacerbated by Asian imports, rising costs, and climate change-induced droughts.

Cerutti's farm now thrives with over 10,000 native plants, attracting increased butterfly and dragonfly populations. She cultivates resilient, historic rice varieties like Carnaroli Classico and Arborio Classico without chemical fertilizers, using green manure and legume crops instead. Grazing sheep enrich the soil naturally, supporting smaller, higher-quality yields. This approach contrasts with some modern farming practices that risk turning fertile plains into deserts.

Despite production challenges from heat, Cerutti's historic rice varieties, particularly Carnaroli Classico with its protective awns, demonstrate greater resilience to drought and extreme weather. Her farm, an EU-certified protected area, is now a haven for rare species, including the black-tailed godwit, sighted at Italy's only recorded nesting site on her property. While many peers find her methods unconventional, Cerutti finds joy in reviving the land and plans to host educational visits and guest accommodations.