C.A.N.A.P.A.

Coltiviamo Azioni per Nutrire, Abitare, Pulire l'Aria

(Cropping up Actions for Feeding, for Living and for Cleaning Air)

Marcello Colao

, Marcello Mastrorilli

, Vincenzo Fornaro

, Claudio Natile

and Elvira Tarsitano

1,5

Abap (Associazione Biologi Ambientalisti Pugliesi), Via Giulio pEtroni 15/f – 70124 Bari, Italy

Cra (Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura), Research Unit for Agriculture in Dry Environments,

Via Celso Ulpiani, 5 - 70125 Bari, Italy

“Masseria del Carmine”, Via Masseria Carmine 7100 – 74123 Taranto, Italy

Canapuglia, Via Adua, 33 - 70014 Conversano (Bari), Italy

Università Degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy

Keywords: Environment, Hemp, Phytoremediation, Cropping Systems, Sustainability.

Abstract: The action aims at reintroducing and re-thinking hemp cultivation, with the purpose of sustainable recovery

of highly polluted agricultural land surrounding ILVA, the huge steel plant in Taranto (Italy). Hemp

(Cannabis sativa) can be used to reclaim the soils using an innovative, eco-friendly and low-cost technique

called phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is the direct use of plants, and their associated microorganisms,

to stabilize or reduce contamination in soils, sludges, sediments, surface water, or ground water. Hemp is

suitable to be used to recover soils, since it easily grows under different pedo-climatic conditions, hemp can

be re-introduced in current cropping systems. Hemp produces high exploitable biomass for the non-food

sector. For this reason several experiments have started in order to test industrial hemp and the real ability to

recover soils. The experimental data actually encourage to use hemp to reclaim soils contaminated with

heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs. It would be necessary to extend the test for collecting definitive data on its

effective use to remediate contaminated soils with inorganic and/or organic pollutants.

1 INTRODUCTION

The concept of green economy conveys the idea of a

new development model based on the potential of

the common interest to contribute to the fulfillment

of the need to bring back the problems of global

pollution within the limits of sustainability, in

general, and those of the contrast to the climate

changes, in particular. The concept of environmental

sustainability, or sustainable development, was

introduced, by the so called “Brundtland Report”

written in 1987 by the World Commission on

Environment and Development, which gave the

following definition:

“Sustainable development is development that

meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to

meet their own needs.”

The C.A.N.A.P.A. project connects directly to

the issues of environmental sustainability, global

pollution and the common interest.

1.1 Motivations

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an annual plant that

takes a year to complete its life cycle. The

peculiarity of annual plants is to ensure the

propagation of the species through the production of

seeds during the final stage of their cycles.

Furthermore, Cannabis sativa is a dioecious plant,

however the monoecious cultivars are highly

appreciated in agronomy. Hemp presents a rich root

system made of abundant secondary roots and a

taproot, which allow the plant to tolerate temporary

dought stress in the soil and to contribute to keeping

the stems upright. Hemp canopies normally attain 3 -

4 meters in height. The leaves are palmately

compound or digitate, with serrate leaflets and are

mostly opposite, with 3-9 lanceolate, sharp, serrated

and pubescent segments.

364

Colao M., Mastrorilli M., Fornaro V., Natile C. and Tarsitano E..

C.A.N.A.P.A. - Coltiviamo Azioni per Nutrire, Abitare, Pulire l’Aria (Cropping up Actions for Feeding, for Living and for Cleaning Air).

DOI: 10.5220/0005474003640369

In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems (SMARTGREENS-2015), pages 364-369

ISBN: 978-989-758-105-2

 2015 SCITEPRESS (Science and Technology Publications, Lda.)

Phytoremediation

Phytoremediation is the ecological science that uses

cropping systems (annual species or trees) to remove

heavy metals and other toxins from contaminated

soil. Using specific plants and trees (called hyper-

accumulators) in polluted areas, contaminants can be

considerably reduced. Why hemp is superior to other

phytoremediators? Hemp grows rapidly producing

consistent amounts of above-ground biomass,

reaching full crop development in just 180 days and

produces roots extending deep into the soil up to 2.5

meters. At that level, the pollutants can be up-taken

without removing the contaminated soil of the top

layer, thus avoiding the expense of transportation to

off-site disposal plants. Moreover hemp is the best

of “remediators” because:

 its ability to grow not affected by toxins

accumulated in the plant;

 its fast absorption rate and its ability to bind air

and soil contaminants compounds;

 Hemp actually removes CO

from the air as

well as removes heavy metals and other

pollutants from the soil.

Direct and Indirect Environmental

Benefits

 Hemp cultivation requires low amounts of

chemical treatments such as pesticides or herbicides;

 Within the sustainable cropping systems,

hemp plays a positive role because it

regenerates the soil making it more fertile

thanks to its properties (weed reduction)

and thanks to its root system, which works

the soil in depth (up to 2 meters), leaving it

in excellent condition for the following

crop in the rotation scheduling;

 It grows fast (up to 10 cm/day) preventing

weeds from developing, and as a

consequence use of herbicides decreases.

Moreover, thanks to the allelopathic

substances contained in the leaves, reduces

the growth of weed species;

 It helps to mitigate climate change. The

result of a study conducted at the University

of Edinburgh, highlights the ability of hemp

to sequester atmospheric CO

into the soil.

1.2 Objectives

The “Green Belt”

The green belt in the United Kingdom is a rule

governing the control of urban development. The

idea is that it should be kept, around the towns, a

green band occupied by forests, farmlands and

outdoor leisure places. Moving from this idea, the

final objective of the action is the remediation of

soils surrounding the Taranto ‘ILVA’ steel plant.

The project consists in cultivating 3 hectares of

hemp at the farm “Masseria del Carmine” located in

Taranto (Southern Italy - Apulia region). The farm is

a pilot company in Taranto; the project includes

certified chemical and physical analysis of the

polluted (by heavy metals and hydrocarbon

compounds, as the dioxins) soil before sowing,

during the vegetative phase of the plant, and after

the seeds and fibres harvest. This action is a useful

input data for the research and development of other

species to employ in the cropping systems of the

area. In the medium to long term, to build a farms

network (green belt), identified in the areas

surrounding the steel plant, adopting the project as

“best practice”. The companies involved in the

project will be properly identified by the trademark

“Masseria Verde” (Green Farm).

The Brand “Masseria Verde”

It is an action of promotion, awareness and

encouragement of measures aimed at the gradual

reintroduction of hemp cultivation in the polluted

lands. It will be made a brand “Masseria Verde”

(Green Farm) (Figure 1) which will be submitted for

approval by Apulia Region. It will be a quality brand

for the more virtuous farms; in fact, the brand will

be assigned to the farms through preparatory

awareness actions and following verification

activities. Awareness of local stakeholders requires

the direct involvement of farmers, in particular those

following the project activities, in the most suitable

sites for cultivation.

Figure 1: “Masseria Verde” logo (draft).

1.3 Interrelations with Existing

Technology

The hemp cultivation is perfectly integrated with

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CleaningAir)

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cropping systems already used in the area, except for

small adaptations depending on the vegetative

characteristics of the plant. Preliminary tests carried

out in this area on limited surfaces have provided the

first evidences about the type of cultivars to adopt in

this environments and the main agro-thechniques.

2 PRESENTATION AND

ANALYSIS OF THE SECTORAL

AND/OR TERRITORIAL

CONTEXT

2.1 Supply and Demand Analysis

The economic and financial crisis is contributing to

accelerate the redefinition of the economic world

with a clear disadvantage to Italian growth and the

consequent risk for the country to remain outside the

“head group” of modern countries. In particular, the

Province of Taranto in response to environmental

and labor issues caused by the massive impact of the

industrial area and maritime traffic, linked to the

presence of the Navy, the merchant fleets and oil

tankers, requires urgent interventions and concretely

sustainable actions to restore the quality of life on

European levels.

There are numerous opportunities related to the

intervention, as well as the positive impact in the

employment and business, including:

 The protection and enhancement of the hemp

farmer, a nearly extinct traditional craft, but

the bearer of a high degree of professionalism

and sustainability; around the Taranto harbor

the hemp spinning was a popular activity

because the request of hemp cordage from the

navy;

 the stimulation to the generational change,

also through the use and transfer of skills

acquired by old hemp farmers during their

professional existence;

 The incentive to learn traditional creative

activities; unnamed tailors of the region

commonly works for the couturiers of the

made in Italy: the availability of a natural

material, as the hemp yarn, locally produced,

gives opportunities for new activities;

 Support the emergence of new micro craft

enterprises related to hemp derivatives

(paper, textile fiber, chipboard for furniture,

bio-bricks, etc.);

 The development of so called “Niche

products” direct to a selected market;

 The introduction of principles, techniques

and biocompatible and environmentally

sustainable materials in the food sector

(seeds, oil seeds and flour) and

entrepreneurship in general (biofuels,

plastics, green building, etc.).

2.2 Location

The project started in Masseria del Carmine (Figure

2) in 2014, a fully functional agricultural reality until

the year in which the industries took possession of

the land and surrounding the farm, determined the

forced restructuring first and finally forced the farm

to the conversion into a “horses pension” and olives

production company. The disastrous impact of the

steel plant on the surrounding area, in fact, prevents

any other crop and livestock activities, typically and

traditionally linked to wine and food production in

this area.

Figure 2: Masseria del Carmine - Taranto.

2.3 Threats and Opportunities

Threats

The main threats from the external environment, can

be summarized in criminal actions and/or

accidental/natural actions, because of the small

number of competitors the success of the project is

practically assured. In this case the threats are

identified as follows:

 Parasites: in modern cultivation there is no

significant pests damage. In the past, when

the crops were very large and concentrated,

were reported borer attacks;

 Drought: hemp has a spring-summer cycle

and in any Mediterranean area rainfall is not

enough to balance the crop water

requirements. An irrigation system for

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supplemental irrigations will be set-up;

 Theft: there may be the theft of some plants

especially in the flowering phase;

 Fire: it is known the danger caused by the

fires in all wooded, cultivated, bushy,

arboreal pasture areas and in the entire region

especially in summer;

 Prejudices: only 100 years ago, vast hemp

fields decorated the Italian countryside, along

with cereals, vineyards, orchards and olive

trees. Italy was the second world producer of

excellent textile fibres and the first in the

world for quality. In parallel with the

development of synthetic fibres, with the use

of cellulose fibres from trees in paper mills,

with exploitation in criminal aim of the

infamous “marijuana”, hemp has been

completely eradicated from the fields and

from the Italian tradition culture. It is time to

transform the prejudices on hemp cultivation

that slow down the continuation and

dissemination of knowledge and techniques,

to make effective information on the subject.

Opportunities

The opportunities are countless and potentially

growing, the most significant, measurable and

classifiable at present are the following:

 Soil remediation: reduce the pollution load

and allow the agricultural activity in the sites

which were contaminated. The economic

value of the lands dropped down as a

consequence of the pollution.

 Teaching Farm: it is a working farm,

characterized by the production and the work

of farmers, who really work in it, in which

part of the time and part of the company

structure is made available to welcome

school groups, families, individual

consumers, to propose nutrition education

and agro-environmental activities;

 Project promotion: on information campaigns

at local, regional and national level, will be

implemented by means of scientific

materials: implementation of a final seminar

in collaboration with project partners to give

the widest possible dissemination of the

results of the project; creation and publication

of a diary of the Best Practice summarizing

the project contents and the achieved results;

making of a documentary as evidence of

development of the project, which can

transmit values and stimulate useful

reflections to form an ecological awareness

among citizens. This will promote greater

awareness of the importance of hemp in

existing cropping systems, even in terms of

eco-tourism attraction with economic benefits

for the local operators.

 Short chain: Hemp besides being known to

man since ancient times can be grown easily

and practically everywhere, this means that

there would be no need to import raw

materials from abroad if hemp cultivation in

Italy was fully encouraged. It would thus be a

short chain;

 Interest: the return of hemp fields will help

the economic recovery in Italy, with energy

saving and with the impulse to companies in

many strategic sectors: construction, food,

cosmetics, textiles, plastics, paper,

pharmaceutical, agro mechanic and textile

machinery;

 Collaboration: network of partnerships will

be strengthened to develop research aimed at

soil remediation involving the CRA

(Consiglio per la Ricerca e la

sperimentazione in Agricoltura) Agricultural

Research Council, the National Research

Council (CNR), the University of Bari, and

associations of professionals and NGO

expressing an interest in the project.

3 PROJECT FEATURES

3.1 Period and Seeding Technique

Once the ground is properly prepared with a slight

ploughing followed by a harrowing, it is possible to

sow. In Southern Italy, the period goes from

Figure 3: Hemp seeding.

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CleaningAir)

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February to May. It takes normal grain seeders with

a distance ranging from 20 to 50 cm depending on

the destination of the product. The seeding density is

20-25 kg per hectare for seed crops; up to 50 kg per

hectare for fibres crops/biomass. The seed should be

placed at a depth of 1-1.5 cm and come to

germination within 8-12 days. (Figure 3).

3.2 Economic Investment

To start a cultivation of one hectare of hemp,

consider the following aspects:

 Purchase seed (€ 5.50 + VAT / Kg);

 Soil preparation (ploughing and harrowing);

 Fertilizers (if necessary);

 Sowing;

 Supplemental irrigation (if necessary);

 Harvesting.

In general, the investment to start a crop on an

area of 10.000 square meters, can vary between €

400,00 - € 600,00.

3.3 Varieties to Be Used

The selected varieties for colder climates (eg.

French), with the typical climate of southern Italy,

tend to go bolting by stopping the growth of the

plant. With the project C.A.N.A.P.A. is expected to

test more varieties and also the old Italian seeds

which have been selected for the Mediterranean

environments but now are neglected by the great

seed companies. The old Italian cultivars can be

available from the research centers which collect the

hemp germoplasm.

3.4 Fertilization

Hemp requires nitrogen especially in the early stages

of development. Depending on the quality of the

soil, the right N rate can be scheduled. Certainly, the

farmer knows his ground and can set it according to

his/her knowledge.

3.5 Weeding

With a dense sowing (for fiber/biomass) hemp does

not require weeding since, thanks to its speed of

growth, does not give space and light to other weeds.

With a sparse sowing (for seed) may be necessary

weeding to remove weeds mechanically.

3.6 Biomass Harvest

From August (under the climatic conditions of

Southern Italy) it is possible to mow with a

conventional mower. We suggest to leave in the

field for 7-10 days (depending on weather

conditions) for a first maceration and proceed with

the round baler. The bales of hemp can be stocked

for several years (unlike the straw that goes rotting)

or sent immediately to the first transformation.

(Figure 4).

Figure 4: Biomass harvest.

3.7 Seed Harvest

Starting from September, according to the

maturation of the seed, we proceed to the threshing

with a combine harvester specially modified.

3.8 First Transformation

Depending on the product to be obtained, the first

transformation may also be in the field, at the same

time of collection. Our vision is to have efficient

machinery, innovative and accessible by small

cooperatives.

4 FEASIBILITY

 The project promotes a system essential to

upgrade the territory through a centuries-old Italian

tradition. The innovation represented by the Hemp is

fully embedded in a historical moment that sees its

cultivation returning protagonist of the productive

sectors. The project is aimed at giving the recipients

an awareness on the question of “sustainable

development” and the “local development”. (Figure

 The feasibility is already guaranteed by the

availability of Masseria del Carmine (and

its field plots), and minimal economic

investment for land preparation, planting,

and then the first harvest.

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Figure 5: Hemp field – Masseria del Carmine.

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Potential productivity of fibre hemp in southern

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Ranalli, Taylor & Francis, 1999, Advances in Hemp

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Natural Fibres: Structure, Properties and Technical

Applications.

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CleaningAir)

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