YESTERDAY: THIRTY YEARS OF PASSIONATE RESEARCH

In the last thirty years we have tried to fill in the memory gap between the generations; we thought it was necessary to take on ourselves the responsibility for the safeguard and conservation of the vegetal genetic inheritance, as well as the traditional knowledge and the rural culture, because we have always believed and we still believe that without our cultural roots no sustainable future is possible. (Isabella e Livio Dalla Ragione). 

A HERITAGE OF ALL HUMANKIND, A HERITAGE TO BE SAFEGUARDED

The research on old varieties of fruit trees and plants of the traditional rural landscape began in the Upper Tiber Valley area, an age-old crossroads of many Italian regions: Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria and the Marches. Since the beginning, the main focus was on the traditional farming systems, on food history and culture, on folklore and old traditions. This research, unexpectedly, also led to the rediscovery of extraordinary connections with art, and the medieval and Renaissance culture of Umbria and Tuscany.

Remarkable documents and information have been collected from old farming handbooks and archives, as well as from the texts of itinerant agriculture lectures and from toponomastic. Most of the plants were rediscovered by visiting abandoned farms, old hamlets, parish gardens, villas and monastery orchards.

During all these years, our main and primary goal has been to salvage these endangered plants in a concrete form: every year, a consistent number of varieties were lost, together with all the knowledge going along with them, and thus the complex system of ecological and cultural background to which they belonged. This is the reason why all the work done has always been characterized by urgency, if not emergency.

All the vegetal material found in many years of research became a collection, which can be visited in the farm of S. Lorenzo di Lerchi, near Città di Castello, in Umbria. The trees are grown using time-honoured local farming techniques, thus entirely recreating the harmony and enchantment of early country landscapes.

THE ARCHEOLOGIA ARBOREA’ ACTIVITIES

- 2010 -2011 partecipazione al gruppo di esperti per la redazione del PIANO NAZIONALE BIODIVERSITA' per conto del Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali.

- We are currently present in the regional committees of the Marches, Latium and Emilia Romagna regions for the management of the conservation rules for agricultural biodiversity;

-  In 2007, we started the biennial project “Research, safeguard, conservation and upgrading of local varieties of the sour orange or melangolo” (Citrus aurantium L.) cultivated In the Province of Terni (TR), in collaboration with the Provincial Council of Terni;
 

- From 2002 to 2008, we cooperated in the Program “Biodiversity Abruzzo”, whose purpose was the collection, conservation and study of the germ plasm of the local species in the Abruzzo region; this program was sponsored by A.R.S.S.A. Abruzzo and coordinated by the University of Perugia – Department of Plant Biology and Agro-Environmental Biotechnologies;

- In 2001, we cooperated in the drawing up and implementation of the four-year Project “Upgrading Of The Genetic Resources Of The Region Umbria”, and carried out the section called “Vegetal biodiversity and its conservation in Umbria” with the University of Perugia, Department of Plant Biology and Agro-Environmental Biotechnologies;

- In 2001 and 2002, in the capacity of experts on genetic resources, we participated in the pilot community Project “The management of vegetal genetics in Vietnam”, which was the result of a partnership between the International Centre Crocevia And Vasi Vietnam Agricultural Science Institute of Hanoi;

- In 2001, we carried out a research on “The perzichi [old term for “peaches”] of Papigno and other fruit varieties that can be found in the territory of the Province Of Terni”, in collaboration with the Provincial Council;

- In 1997 and 1998, we participated in the Project “Collection and study of the germplasm of plants of agrarian interest in the Region Abruzzo”, as part of the implemental program POM Mis.3.2 Divulgation; sponsored by the A.R.S.S.A. Abruzzo – i.e. the regional agency for agricultural development – and coordinated by the University Of Perugia – Institute Of Genetic Enhancement;

- In 1991, we drew up and implemented a triennial project named “Archeologia Agricola” – i.e. “farming archaeology” – as part of the Leader Program of the European Community, sponsored by the Consortium of Municipalities of Gubbio and Upper Chiascio Valley (Perugia), for the salvaging and conversation of the old local fruit trees;

OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In 2009, in occasion of the Biodiversity Day, at the Campidoglio, the Capitoline Hill in Rome, Isabella Dalla Ragione was given the Award for the “Custodians of the mediterranean diversity”, which was founded by Biodiversity International in collaboration with the Municipality of Rome. Other important personalities, also working in various sectors of the conservation of biodiversity in agriculture, were awarded that same day.

-  5 MARZO 2011 -  ADA onlus Associazione Donne Ambientaliste  di  Parma  conferisce a Isabella Dalla Ragione il premio "MIMOSA PER L'AMBIENTE 2011"  21° edizione,   con la motivazione : " PER L'APPASSIONATA PROTEZIONE DI SAPORI E SAPERI ANTICHI A CUSTODIA DELLA BIODIVERSITA'"