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Farmer Revives Wetlands for Biodiversity Over Yield
12 Oct
Summary
- A farmer transformed one-third of her land into wetlands for biodiversity.
- She uses natural methods like green manure and sheep grazing for rice cultivation.
- The farm is committed to ecological restoration, including planting 10,000 native trees.
In Italy's Vercelli plain, farmer Alice Cerutti has renaturalized approximately a third of her 110-hectare farm, transforming 25 hectares into wetlands to boost biodiversity. This bold initiative contrasts with traditional rice farming, which has been a cornerstone of the region for 400 years.
Cerutti has planted over 10,000 native trees and plants, observing a significant increase in insect and bird populations, including the rare black-tailed godwit. She cultivates historic rice varieties like Carnaroli Classico using sustainable practices, eschewing chemical fertilizers and instead employing green manure and legume crops, with sheep grazing between harvests to enrich the soil.
This approach comes as Italy's rice sector faces a crisis due to imports, rising costs, and climate change-induced droughts. While Cerutti’s production has been affected by heat, her resilient historic rice varieties and proactive wetland management, including early flooding, help mitigate drought impacts.
Fellow farmers often deem her methods unconventional, yet Cerutti's farm, an EU-certified protected area, demonstrates a commitment to ecological revival. She plans to offset reduced earnings by hosting educational programs and offering guest accommodation, showcasing a vision where agriculture and nature conservation coexist.
