Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CARINA (CARinata and CamelINA to boost the sustainable diversification in EU farming systems)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-11-01 bis 2024-04-30
The CARINA project capitalizes on a highly experienced and transdisciplinary team of 19 partners and 5 affiliated entities from 13 EU and Associated Countries (Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, UK, Serbia, Tunisia, Morocco, Switzerland). CARINA is built on the firm belief that a participatory approach is condicio sine qua non for the scalability of CARINA solutions. The importance of social innovation for the success of the project clearly emerges in all its actions: lighthouses, living labs, and policy innovation labs have been appositely planned to play a leading role in jointly developing innovative value chains based on the new oilseed crops carinata and camelina considered as promising multiple low-iLUC feedstocks for circular bio-based value chains. Assuming that consensus for a new crop can be achieved only if the crop makes financial sense and does not require substantial investment to farmers, carinata and camelina fully meet these requirements being able to adapt to broadly different soil and environmental conditions producing high-quality oils for a plethora of potential added-value bio-based applications (bioherbicides, bioplastics, biostimulants etc.). Moreover, camelina and carinata cakes (residues from oil extraction) are protein-rich compounds which can be valorized as animal feed, as well as in a multitude of high added-value products.
During this reporting period, we dedicated considerable efforts to the engagement of different categories of stakeholders in lighthouses events, living labs and policy innovation labs. In parallel, a considerable number of agronomic trials on camelina and carinata as cash-cover crops, inter- or relay crops in productive and marginal land have been performed. Over 170 field trials in 9 countries were implemented. In parallel, laboratory tests on the use of active compounds for innovative bio-based applications (bioplastics, biostimulants, biopesticides etc.) were carried out providing promising results. Almost 60 active compounds have been identified in camelina and carinata as potential building blocks for commercial bio-based products. Polyphenols and polysaccharides extracted from camelina cake formed stable secondary structures that might be the basis for target formulation of food supplements. Camelina and carinata cakes were used to develop biostimulants, bioherbicides and biopesticides, the latter being evaluated in contact-digestive and repellency tests showing positive effects against rice and bean weevil, aphids and confused flour beetle. For the integrated (social, economic and environmental) sustainability assessment of CARINA farming systems, a comprehensive analysis was conducted resulting in a core collection of 154 documents and 65 preliminary economic, environmental and social indicators. These indicators were designed to identify all possible effects of the CARINA value chains and to provide the basis for sustainability analysis. The dataset will be organized in the Systerre environment (a decision support tool). Two trainings on Systerre were organized internally to CARINA in February 2023 and January 2024. A considerable dissemination and communication activity through social media channels, webinars, conference participation, synergies with sister projects, newsletters etc. significantly promoted the project visibility.
In general, although inevitably camelina and carinata still need some technical improvements for their cultivation (e.g. weed and pests’ control, harvesting etc.), both showed highly promising results across contrasting growing environments or management conditions, thus revealing a broad adaptability and resilience under marginal conditions in Europe and north Africa. Agronomic trials have been successfully established resulting in a significant advancement of knowledge on camelina and carinata as inter- double-or relay - crops; moreover, the intense involvement of farmers and stakeholders through lighthouse events further accelerated the learning process. A deep characterization of camelina and carinata was performed in term of bioactive compounds: 32 compounds were identified in camelina seeds and 27 compounds in carinata seeds. Together with the utilization the erucic and pelargonic monoacid, the presence of oleic acid enabled the production of additional key monomers such as azelaic and hexanoic acid (from carinata), expanding the range of potential bioproducts. The analysis of crude carinata oil revealed a high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (about 50%) alongside notable levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (about 35%). It was confirmed the feasibility of producing the target fatty acids brassilic and pelargonic acids, along with azelaic and hexanoic acids, all of which hold potential. At the same time, contact-digestive and repellency tests provided new insights into how camelina and carinata residues could be potentially valorized as biopesticides. Similarly, biostimulants from camelina and carinata showed interesting potentialities, although additional tests are required to identify the optimal concentrations of active compounds.