The owner family in the early 1900s emigrated to reach the lands of the "Baraggia" Rovasendese (Vercelli, Italy). In a few years, the exploitation of the land, monoculture, and "reclamation" with the distortion of subtle natural balances have gradually transformed the paddy field from an eco-systemic basin to a sterile, fragile, polluted, and sick environment.
The need to change arose from this awareness.
The change was gradual; in 2001, Fulvio Stocchi sowed some rice without fertilizing and weeding to satisfy family consumption. In the following years, the areas of rice cultivated in a completely natural way increased; in 2007, the whole company (120 he) was converted to natural organic, giving priority to the use of historical varieties of rice, not artificially hybridized, of which we are today the custodians.
Over the years, they have rediscovered and improved the technique of sowing rice directly on a flooded lawn, now known as "green mulch" or "Stocchi method" recently studied by the Italian Ministry of agricultural policies http://www.sinab.it/parole-chiave/risobiosystems
Having reached the goal of cultivating without poisoning, they realized that a cultivation "Technique," even if respectful of the environment, would not be enough to cure him of the many years of chemical monoculture.
Thus, to regenerate the environment, 15,000 native trees and shrubs species began to be plantedfor a total of 60 Km of rows of Agroforestry within the rice fields.
Considering essential the excellent quality of the seeds, in 2016, the company branch "Una Garlanda seed company" was born, which markets and certifies organically cultivated rice seeds. Furthermore, since 2018 we have been collaborating with the second level association: "Rete semi rural" RSR, on the "risoresiliente" project https://rsr.bio/progetto-riso-resiliente/
To facilitate the increasingly necessary conversion process to more sustainable agricultural models, together with other farmers, we have created two cultural associations: "Polyculturae" (www.polyculturae.it) to promote recovery of biodiversity also through a collective brand, certified by Universities and the "Biodistretto del Riso Piemontese", the first Italian Biodistrict on rice, was created.
The most recent project started in 2020, is the creation of a stable wetland intended to introduce the rare pond turtle Emys orbicularis in collaboration with @CentroEmysPiemonte.
We believe that only agriculture connected to Nature, observing and respecting diversity, will be able to sustain itself in the future and bear good results.
