MIDTERM Report Covering the project

LIFE Project Number

<LIFE12 ENV/IT 000719>

MIDTERM Report Covering the project activities from 01/07/2013to 31/12/2015

Reporting Date

<11/04/2016>

LIFE+ PROJECT NAME or Acronym

<LIFE CarbOnFarm>

Project Data Project location Italy

Project start date: <01/07/2013>

Project end date: <01/07/2018> Extension date: ---------

Total Project duration (in months)

<60> months ( including Extension of <XX> months)

Total budget € 3,051,265

Total eligible budget € 3,036,265

EU contribution: € 1,495,027

(%) of total costs 49%

(%) of eligible costs 49.24%

Beneficiary Data Name Beneficiary CERMANU

Contact person Mr Riccardo Spaccini

Postal address <Via Università, n° 100, IT, 80055Portici>

Visit address < Via Università, n° 100, IT, 80055Portici >

Telephone 39-081-2539 + direct n°176

Fax: 39-081-2539+ direct n°

E-mail [email protected]

Project Website www.carbonfarm.eu

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1. List of contents 2. Executive Summary ............................................................................. 4

2.1 Project background and objectives.................................................................... 4

2.2 Report summary ................................................................................................ 5 2.3 List of Abbreviations: ........................................................................................ 7

3. Introduction ........................................................................................... 7

4. Administrative part .............................................................................. 9

4.1 Description of the management system ............................................................ 9 4.2 Evaluation of the management system ............................................................ 13

5. Technical part ..................................................................................... 15

5.1. Technical progress, per task ........................................................................... 15 5.1.1. Action B.1 Set up of a composting plant and transfer of 'on farm'

composting technologies. .......................................................................... 15 5.1.2 Action B.2 Set up of laboratory facilities for the production of biomimetic

catalyst. ..................................................................................................... 19

5.1.3 Action B.3 Set up of project sites ................................................................ 21 5.1.4. Action C.1 Monitoring of composting processes and characterization of

compost quality ......................................................................................... 23

5.1.5 Action C.2 Monitoring of soil organic carbon stabilization and the improvement of physical and biological soil fertility ............................... 25

5.1.6 Action C.3 Monitoring of the agronomical, phytopathological and practical sustainability of proposed strategies ......................................... 28

5.1.7 Action C.4 Monitoring of greenhouse gases emissions .............................. 30

5.1.8. Action C.5 Monitoring the environmental and economical sustainability of proposed strategies ................................................................................... 32

5.1.8 Action E1 Technical planning/ Technical, administrative and financial management and Monitoring of the project progress .............................. 35

5.2 Dissemination actions ..................................................................................... 36 5.2.1 Objectives .................................................................................................... 36 5.2.2 Action D1. Project website ......................................................................... 39 5.2.3 Action D.2 LIFE+ notice boards, project leaflets, informative technical

reports ....................................................................................................... 39

5.2.4 Action D.3 Press Conferences and workshop/demonstration days ............ 40 5.2.5 Action D.4 Info-days (to students) .............................................................. 42 5.2.6 Action D.5 Mid-term and final conference ................................................. 43

5.2.7 Action D.8 Networking activities with other LIFE+ projects .................... 44

5.3 Evaluation of Project Implementation ............................................................ 45

5.4 Analysis of long-term benefits ........................................................................ 48

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6. Comments on the financial report ..................................................... 52

6.1. Summary of Costs Incurred ........................................................................... 52

6.2. Accounting system ......................................................................................... 56 6.3. Partnership arrangements (if relevant) ........................................................... 58

6.4. Auditor's report/declaration ............................................................................ 58

7. Annexes .............................................................................................. 62

7.1 Administrative annexes ................................................................................... 62 7.2 Technical annexes ........................................................................................... 62 7.3 Dissemination annexes .................................................................................... 62

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2. Executive Summary

2.1 Project background and objectives The LIFE CarbOnFarm project intends to address the basic requirements concerning the sustainable use of agricultural soils coupled with the the economical and environmental valorisation of agricultural biomasses. The Life CarbOnFarm wish to combine complementary objectives focused on the application of environmental sustainable methods of SOM managements. The proposal is tailored on the non-livestock farms of agricultural land of Mediterranean area characterized by limited access to exogenous OM sources, the progressive decline of SOM content and the steady degradation of soil system. The first objective of the project is the acquisition of local availabilities of organic biomasses from agricultural activities, for the attainment of high quality composts used in soil amendments. The demonstrative activities are based on soil addition with high quality compost obtained by the recycling of local agricultural residues. In farm sites of Campania the compost is obtained by on farm composting facilities. In farm sites of Piemonte the compost is supplied by external composting plant, using the available organic biomasses represented by solid fraction from anaerobic digestion of cattle slurry. The demonstrative action is associated with the application of eco-friendly innovative technology in agro-ecosystems, focused on the SOC sequestration with the soil addition of biomimetic catalyst that is expected to strengthen the bio-stability of SOM. A starting project goal is represented by the realization of on-farm composting facility at the project site of Beneficiary Prima Luce. This action put into practice the combination of sustainable SOM managements with the productive and economical valorisation of residual biomasses from the local farming systems. The actual correspondence with project objectives will be ascertained by the monitoring actions that will promote the acquisition of analytical data concerning compost composition, SOC quantity and quality, GHG emission from cultivated soils, soil stability, crop productivity as well as the environmental, energetic and economical sustainability of the applied methodologies. These parameters will act as valuable feedback indicators used for internal timing adjustment of proposed practices and thereby becoming also a side objective to the development of practical tools to support the decisional and planning processes. Beside the first planned goal based on the activation of effective on farm composting facility, measurable deliverables and outputs are hence represented by the increase of SOC and the improvement of abiotic and biotic SOM quality, the decrease of energetic inputs associated with the maintenance of crop productivity, and the decrease of GHG emission from managed soils. The dissemination of project background and results is aimed to perform an effective communication on the utilization of recycled biomasses which may efficiently combine environmental protection with crop productivity, emphasizing their valorisation as important local bio-resources in terms of C sequestration and maintenance of soil functions. In order to match the challenging multitasks approach of LIFE CarbOnFarm project, the consortium of Beneficiaries combine different skills and experiences, thus exploiting the synergy effect produced by the integration of scientific advances of research based activity (AGROSELVIT, CERMANU, CREA-ORT, UNIBAS), the actual and topical commercial farming requirements (PRIMA LUCE) and the communication and dissemination expertises of Regional Institutions (ALSIA, REGCAMP). The set up of project activities have involved the activation of five farm sites (two in Piemonte and three in

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Campania) with the inclusion of two additional commercial farms for a reliable evaluation of economical sustainability of proposed strategies in different cropping systems

2.2 Report summary

The present report include the following information: � Administrative part (chapter 4): • Gantt diagram of planned and actual deadlines of project activities and tasks • management chart with technical and financial responsibilities of Coordinating and Associated

beneficiaries • organigram and tasks of Coordinating and Associated beneficiaries • description of management system and minor administrative variations

� Technical part (chapter 5)

� Implementation actions: description of technical progress and variations in respect to the planned commitments of the activated Implementation actions

• Action B.1. The activity related to the LIFE on farm composting plant at the project site of Prima Luce is completed. The technical progress relate to the production of on-farm compost. The average initial productive capacity of mature compost was lower in respect to the planned yields foreseen in the proposal. This mismatch is mainly relate with the lower actual availability of crop residues with high cellulose/ligneous fibre contents (e.g. artychoke, tomato). The attainment of LIFE on-farm composting prototype has activated local economic investments from local commercial cooperative farms for the realization of on-farm composting facilities.

• Action B.2 – In progress. This action was partially modified in respect to the original objective of the in-house synthesis of the biomimetic catalysts. The technical part is related to the acquisition of basic molecule and the outsourcing of the in-house synthesis of biomimetic catalyst. Further scientific approaches, aimed to the improvement of catalytic activity of SOC stabilization, have been developed and applied in an additional experiments carried out in collaboration with the Wageningen University

• Action B.3. In progress. This action describe the field operations (soil treatments, plot surfaces, cropping systems) associated with the application of SOM management strategies, carried out in the following five farming sites Piemonte (Beneficiary responsible Agroselvit) Project sites: 1) University farm Tetto Frati, cropping system maize, 7 soil treatments. SOM management: commercial local compost, biomimetic catalyst. 2) Commercial farm Grandi, cropping system open field horticultural crops, 6 soil treatments. SOM management: commercial local compost Campania 3) University farm of Castel Volturno (Beneficiary responsible Cermanu), cropping system: maize, four soil treatments. SOM managements: local on farm compost, biomimetic catalysts 4) Commercial farm Prima Luce (Beneficiaries responsible Prima Luce, Crea-Ort), cropping system: open field horticultural crops, 4 soil treatments. SOM management: LIFE on farm compost 5) Commercial Farm Mellone (Beneficiary responsible Unibas), cropping system orchards (peach and kiwy), 4 soil treatments. SOM management: LIFE on farm compost

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� Monitoring actions: advances and first results of monitored parameters for • Action C.1 In progress. This action is almost completed with the acquisition of the analytical

parameters related to quality and composition of compost used in the SOM management at different project sites (pH, EC, heavy metals, TOC and total N content, 13C-OC isotopic content, enzymatic activity (FDA), microbial analyses, phytotoxicity/biostimulation, molecular characterization). The analyses related to N and OC content and molecular characterization will be performed annually in order to better relate the SOM transformation to the added compost materials.

• Action C.2 In progress. This action include the evaluation of the effect of SOM management at different project sites. The following parameters have been analysed: soil aggregate stability, SOC and total N content, initial isotopic 13C-OC content, initial soil humic substances; SOM characterization by TAHM-GC-MS, microbial analyses. According with the expected targets, the first results indicate a prospective increase of TOC content in compost amended plots project sites of all project sites and a variation of SOM composition with the inclusion of compost derived components. An additional experiments, focused on to the short term application of modified biomimetic catalyst, has been included in Action C2 with the carrying out of a internships training activity in collaboration with the Wageningen University

• Action C.3 In progress. This action reports on the agronomic results obtained from the SOM management practices as compared to the conventional local farming systems, for different project sites and crops: 1) Tetto Frati 2 crop cycles: maize yield, physiological status, P and N content; 2) Grandi 4 crop cycles -lettuce, cabbage broccoli: crop yields, physiological status, P and N content; 3) Castel Volturno 2 crop cycles: maize yield, physiological status, P and N content; 4) Prima Luce 3 crop cycles endive-scarole, pumpkin, broccoli. Crop yoelds, physiological stausr, dry matter content 5) Mellone 1 year crop cycle (peach, kiwi): yields, nutrient uptakes and quality indicators (N, P, dry matter content, firmness, colour, solids soluble content, titrable acidity, total nitrogen, total polyphenols, antioxidant activity; photosynthetic status)

• Action C.4 In Progress . The measurements of GHG emissions have been activated at the project site of Castel Volturno (2 year field measurements), Tetto Frati 1 year field measurements and laboratory measurements of GHG emission from different organic matrices used in SOM managements. The field analyses at the project site of Mellone underwent to an unforeseen delay for the set up of analytical apparatus

• Action C.5 LCA assessment of proposed approaches. In Progress The LCA evaluation of LIFE on farm composting plant of Prima Luce and associated composting process has been completed. The LCA analyses of applied SOM management strategies at different project sites is currently in progress; the protocol for data collection from different cropping systems has been defined and shares among partners. The elaboration od the data collected after the first two years of soil management is in progress

• Action C.6 In progress. Two typologies of questionnaires focused on the assessment of current awareness on ground hypotheses and working themes has produced have been produced by Agroselvit and Alsia. Currently about 250 questionnaires have been collected. � Dissemination activities: update and response on communication tools and activities

• Action D1- the project website is active from December 2013;

• Action D.2- 11 notice boards have been produced: one for each Beneficiary plus 4 (2 in Italian 2 in English) for participation at Conferences and Meetings; initial leaflet has been produced for the Initial Press conference. A second leaflet and a technical report will be printed for the Mid Tem Conference

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• Action D.3: Workshops, dissemination events,; • Action D.4 – info days for students;

• Action D.5 – project conferences; • Action D.8 LIFE networking

2.3 List of Abbreviations: 13C/31P-CPMAS NMR (solid state Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinnining Nuclear Magnetic Resonance on 13C and 31P nuclei); FDA: hydrolase activity with fluorescein diacetate method; EMI maps: Induced Electro Magnetism; ESAP software: Electromagnetic Sampling Analysis; GHG: green house gases; N: nitrogen; PLFA: phospholipid- fatty acids; PORF iron-porphyrin/ biomimetic catalyst; S/TOC soil/total organic carbon; SOM soil organic matter; TAHM-GC-MS: off-line thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation pyrolysis GasChromatography Mass Spectrometry

3. Introduction − Description of background, problem and objectives � Environmental problem/issue addressed The LIFE CarbOnFarm project intends to address the basic requirements concerning the sustainable use of agricultural soils as outlined in the indicative favoured actions of LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance programme for the thematic Soil. Develop and implement land use practices and techniques aimed to protect and improve the status of soil in terms of structure, organic matter, chemical fertility, biodiversity. This goal will include the adoption of pilot agro-environmental schemes, and of environmental friendly agricultural management and technologies based also on the reduction of residues coming from agriculture. � Outline the hypothesis to be demonstrated / verified by the project a) the preservation/improvement of soil quality through the improvement of SOM status in agricultural soils, achieved with the application of environmental sustainable methods of SOM managements; b) decreasing use of energetic inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) and maintenance of crop productivity; c) promote the productive and economical valorization of residual biomasses from the local agricultural activities d) decrease the GHG emission from managed soils; e) ascertain the feasibility of proposed approaches with the acquisition of data concerning the SOC quantity and quality, GHG emissions, crop productivity as well as the environmental, energetic and economical sustainability of the applied methodologies. � Description of the technical / methodological solution The SOM managements are based on the both demonstrative and innovative activities: 1) use of compost from recycled biomasses from local agricultural activities, through either the adoption of on-farm composting facilities and use of local availability of organic biomasses from the anaerobic bio-treatment plan of livestock residues. 2) application of biomimetic catalyst (iron-porphyrin) in order to improve the biochemical stability of SOC � Expected results and environmental benefits

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Attainment of on-farm composting facility and on-farm compost production; increase of SOC level; improvement of soil biodiversity; maintenance of crop productivity; decrease of GHG emissions; increasing awareness on environmental and economical valorisation of organic biomasses from agricultural residues • Expected longer term results A first result that may ahve positive effects on long time scale is related to the activation of the on farm composting facility. Currently, following the visits of the on farm composting prototype at Prima Luce project site, additional economic investments have been planned for the realization of local composting plant by commercial cooperative farms, which will also promote important effects on the productive recycling of agricultural biomasses. For the point of view of the environmental targeted issues, the proposed strategies for SOM managements are expected to improve the soil fertility with an effective stabilization of SOC and the maintenance of crop productivity with a decrease of chemical inputs. The project results may contribute to integrate the available information and awareness for the protective use of soil, not only with the traditional conservative practices (i.e no tillage), but also with the most environmental and economical challenging strategies based on either the recycle of agricultural and urban biomasses and innovative technologies. In this respect the results related to monitoring actions (e.g compost suppressivity and bio-stimulation properties, GHG emission from agricultural soil) may strengthen and extend the existing information included in EU publication related to Soil Thematic Strategy: improve the evaluation of SOM and compost quality and uses, provide an actual estimate of the contribution of SOM managed agricultural soil in the GHG emissions, in the Land Use Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector. The integration of a sustainable productive cycle based on local resources is expected to be easily transferred and adapted to the need and requirements of different agro-ecosystems characterized by the decline of soil quality. In this respect a first attempt was already planned with the exchange activities with a LIFE project and inclusion of the LIFE CarbOnFarm strategies in a new LIFE proposal submitted by another consortium (see details at Action D.8). In our opinion the results of LIFE projects on soil preservation, may be also helpful to improve the focus on the key-role of soil for agro-ecosystems in other EU programme such as H2020

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4. Administrative part

4.1 Description of the management system − Ganntt diagram of planned project activities and tasks: Tasks/

Activities

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

1T 2T 3T 4T 1T 2T 3T 4T 1T 2T 3T 4T 1T 2T 3T 4T 1T 2T 3T 4T 1T 2T 3T 4T

Overall project schedule

Proposed

X

O

X

O

X

X

X

Actual

Action A 1 Proposed

Actual

Action B1 Proposed

Actual

Action B2 Proposed

Actual

Action B3 Proposed

Actual

Action C1 Proposed

Actual

Action C2 Proposed

Actual

Action C3 Proposed

Actual

Action C4 Proposed

Actual

Action C5 Proposed

Actual

Action C6 Proposed

Actual

Action D1 Proposed

Actual

Action D2 Proposed

Actual

Action D3 Proposed

Actual

Action D4 Proposed

Actual

Action D5 Proposed

Actual

Action D6 Proposed

Actual

Action D7 Proposed

Actual

Action D8 Proposed

Actual

Action E1 Proposed

Actual

01/07/2013 01/07/2018

X=Reports

11/04/2016

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ALSIA

Dr. A. De RosaDr. R.SileoALSIA

Dr. D. Esposito

Project manager

Prof.Riccardo Spaccini CERMANU

Prof. C. Grignani AGROSELVIT

Technical managementProf. A. Piccolo

CERMANU

Financial managementMs. V. Gagliotti

CERMANU

Prof. G. Celano UNIBAS

Dr. M. ZaccardelliCRA-ORT

Dr. A. D’Antonio REGCAMP

Prima Luce

C1, D4

C3

D1, D2, D6

A1, B2, B3, C2,C4, D7, D8, E1

B.1

A1, B1, B3, C2, C3, C4, D3, D4, E1

;

D1, D7, D8

A1, C1, C2, D3, D4, E1

E.1

D5, D7

A1, B3, C1, C3, E1 E.1

D3, D4, D5

A1, D3, D4, D5, E1 E.1

D7

D3, D5

A1, D1, D6, E1 E.1

D7

C1, C3, D3 D4,D5

C5, C6,D1

Project Responsiblefor action

implementation

Technical management for local actionimplementation

Support activity foraction implementation

Dr. L. Bianco

UNIBAS

Ms. P. Pagliarino

Prima Luce

Dr .L.Olivarelli

AGROSELVIT

Dr M. Di Stefano

CRA-ORT

REGCAMP administrative

officer

E.1

E.1A1, B3, C1, C2, C3,C4, D3, D4, D5, E1

C5, C6

C5, C6, D1, D5, D6, D8

Project management scheme

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−Presentation of the coordinating beneficiary, associated beneficiaries and project organisation Coordinating beneficiary CERMANU: Project responsible for Actions: A1, B2, B3, C2, C4, D7, D8, E1; Local responsibilities for Actions C1, C3, D3, D4, D5; Supporting activities for Actions C5, C6, D1 � Mr. Riccardo Spaccini, Associate Professor– Project Manager: responsible for planning

and coordination of technical activities and fulfilment of administrative obligations and for the fulfilment of project goals. Crossing point for coordination of main dissemination products (e.g. Website, Conference, Manual etc. ) Action A1, E1,

� Mr. Alessandro Piccolo, Full Professor, Director of CERMANU: - Technical manager for CERMANU: responsible for the fulfilment of project activities and for the accomplishment of tasks under the responsibility of CERMANU. Direct responsible for the Dissemination activities of CERMANU- Action A.1, E.1...

� Mrs. Filomena Sannino, Senior Researcher – Responsible for Action B.2 related to the acquisition and utilization of biomimetic catalyst. Involved in the organization and realization of dissemination activities of CERMANU

� Mr. Enzo Di Meo , Qualified technician; responsible for the activities included in Action B.3 Set-up of project sites, for the project site of University of Napoli Castel Volturno. Involved in the dissemination activities of CERMANU

� Mrs. Valentina Gagliotti, administrative technician, responsible, in coordination with the Project manager, for the administrative tasks

� Mrs Vincenza Cozzolino: temporary staff hired for the project. Responsible for Actions C1, C2, C3; supporting activity for Actions B3, C4

ALSIA Project responsible Actions

D3, D5 Local responsibilities Actions:D2, D6, E1

Supporting activities Actions D1, D4, D7

Management Name and Surname Profile Role in the project

Rocco Sileo Management staff Technical Manager Actions D3, D5, E1

Giuseppe Ippolito Functionary Responsible Action D5;

engaged in Action D3, D6, E1

Maria Lombardi Functionary Responsible for Action C.6 engaged in Action D3, D5

Antonio De Rosa Technician Administrative officer AGROSELVIT

Project responsible Actions C5, C6

Local responsibilities Actions: A1, B3, C1, C3,

C4, D3, D4

Supporting activities Actions D1, D5, D7, D8

Permanent staff Name and Surname Profile Role in the project

Carlo Grignani Full Professor Technical Manager Action A1, B3, D3, D4, D5, E1

Loredana Olivarelli Technician Cat. C1 Administrative officer

Laura Zavattaro Technician Cat. D2 Responsible for Action C6

Action C3, C4, D4, E1

Mauro Gilardi Technician Cat.C7 Responsible for Action B3

Actions C2,C4 D3, E1 Temporary staff

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Mrs Chiara Bertora Hired for project activities Responsible for Action C4 Mr Stefano Gaudino Hired for project activities Responsible for Action C5

CREA-ORT

Project responsible Actions C.3

Local responsibilities Actions: A1, C1, C2, D3,

D4, E1


Management-Permanent staff Name and Surname Profile Role in the project

Massimo Zaccardelli Researcher Technical Manager Action A1, B3, C1 and

C3 Paola Iovieno Researcher Engaged in action C1 and C2

Francesco Raimo Researcher Engaged in action C3 Antonietta Napolitano Researcher Engaged in action C3 Giuseppe Di Stefano Technician Engaged in action C3

Giulia Alfano Technician Engaged in action C1 and C2 Maria Di Stefano Technician Administrative officer

PRIMA LUCE

Project responsible Actions B1

Local responsibilities Actions: B3, E1



Mr. Dementrio Esposito Managaer Technical manager Mrs Paola Gagliardino Employee Administrative Officer REGCAMP

Project responsible Actions D1, D2, D6

Local responsibilities Actions: D3, D4, D5,

E1

Supporting activities Actions D7, D8


Mr. Amedeo D’Antonio Functionary level D6

Technical manager Responsible administrative

tasks Actions D.1, D.2, D.3, D.5, D.6

Mr. Giuliano Marseglia Functionary level D6 Responsible for Action D.1

Mr. Fabrizio Ferrer Technician level C5 Graphical and editorial unit Actions D.2, D.3, D.5, D.6

UNIBAS

Project responsible Actions C1, D4

Local responsibilities Actions: A1, B1, B3, C2,

C3, C4, D3, E1

Supporting activities Actions D7, C5, C6, D1, D5, D6, D8


Mr. Giuseppe Celano Associate Professor Technical manager Mr. Cristos Xiloyannis

Full Professor Responsible for Dissemination activities

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Support, B1, B3, E1

Vitale Nuzzo Associate Professor Responsible for Action C1 Support: B3, C3 C4, E1

Bartolomeo Dichio Associate Professor Responsible for Action C5 Support: B3, C,1, C,3 C,4, E1

Giuseppe Montanaro Technician Responsible for Action B.3 Support: C1, C2, C,3 C4, E1

Aurelia Sole Full Professor Responsible for Action C4

Salvatore Manfreda Associate Professor Responsible for Action C3

Beniamino Onorati Technician Responsible for Action C2 Support: B3, C1, C2 C3, E1

Mr G. Pentasuglia Technician Administrative officer E1

− Description of changes due to amendments to the Grant Agreement. Two main modifications have been introduced with the amendment of the Grant Agreement, regarding the replacement, for administrative reasons, of the initial Associated beneficiaries Regione Basilicata (REGBAS) and Terra Orti, included in the original proposal, with the respective internal components represented by ALSIA and Prima Luce, in the order. The Amendment to Grant Agreement has been approved by the Commission with the communication sent on 28/04/2014 (Ares 2014 1326270), thereby becoming fully active from the 1st December 2013. This modification did not produce any variation in the allocated budget.

The Partnership Agreements signed with the Associated Beneficiaries involved in the original proposal were submitted with the Inception Report on 03/03/2014. The Partnership Agreements signed with the new incoming Beneficiaries ALSIA and Prima Luce, after the approval of Amendment to Grant Agreement, were submitted with the Progress Report on 16/03/2015

4.2 Evaluation of the management system As already indicated in the previous reports, the main problems encountered for the project management were mainly related to the innovation represented by the realization of the on-farm composting facility (Action B.1). The extension of projected plant and the amounts and transfer needs of fresh organic materials and final compost, involved in the on farm composting activity, makes the administrative issues comparable with the requisites and obligations of the industrial plants. The attainment of the large on-farm composting plant had hence to face with the absence of specific regional legislative procedure, and with the not clear indication on administrative and institutional responsibilities. These topics have been faced with a cooperative and fruitful collaboration of beneficiaries and project management with the representatives of local authorities. All the associated beneficiaries carried out a powerful and fruitful collaboration in the management of technical and administrative tasks. Each beneficiary has appointed a technical manager and administrative officer which collaborate with the coordinating beneficiary. To this regards the LIFE CarbOnfarm project has incorporated the experiences stored in previous project collaboration occurred among the public beneficiaries. Each of the technical managers has in fact an acquired experience as Coordinator in either Regional, National and European projects, thereby allowing an effective support to the Project management Since the start of project activities, the management is based, besides the Project Committee Meetings indicated in the Milestones, on a periodical (nearly monthly) achievement of video-

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conferences for the steady update and planning of project progress (Administrative annex 7.1a– Minutes of Committee project meetings). Moreover a steady periodic (weekly or fortnightly ) contacts (by e-mail or phone) are established between the Project manager and administrative officer of CERMANU with the responsible and involved personnel of Associated beneficiary for the coordination and implementation of different tasks (Administrative annex 7.1b– Project mailing list) No substantial modification are expected at this time in the partnership agreements. A possible slight deviation from the agreed financial contribution included in the Partnership agreements may be represented by the envisaged transfer of part of the budget allocated by the Beneficiary REGCAMP in Travel (F.2) to other Beneficiaries (ALSIA, CRA-ORT, UNIBAS); please refer to the comments included in the financial section Two administrative modifications have regarded the associated beneficiaries: the CRA-ORT, that is an operative branch of Minister of Agriculture, switched is name to CREA-ORT following a Ministerial reorganization. For ALSIA, a new responsible has been assigned (Dr. Domenico Romaniello) and the permanent staff has been now included under the direct control of the Regional Administration (Administrative annex 7.1c– Regional Disposition for ALSIA reorganization). These administrative changes will not produce any changes nor for the technical neither in financial obligations of the associated beneficiaries. − Communication with the Commission and Monitoring team.

A monthly contact, based on e-mail correspondence, of Project manager with the assigned representative of Monitoring team, has been activated since the start of project activities, for the steady report and update on project progress mainly based on short resume of current activities. Three Monitoring visit were already performed with the representative of Monitoring team at the following beneficiary’s premises: CERMANU, PRIMA LUCE, AGROSELVIT

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5. Technical part

5.1. Technical progress, per task

Implementation Actions

5.1.1. Action B.1 Set up of a composting plant and transfer of 'on farm' composting technologies.

Proposal start date: July 2013 Proposal end date: December 2014 Actual situation Actual start date: December

2013 Expected end date: July 2018

(to continue) In progress

Beneficiary Responsible PRIMA LUCE Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: UNIBAS is involved in the technical support for the devising and planning of compost facility, and in the initial transfer of know-how for the set-up of correct composting procedure The scheduled milestones related with this implementation action may be split as follow:

- the set-up of composting plant has been actually completed within the III semester 2014 with

the attainment of the LIFE of farm composting facility and the transfer of the know-how for

the composting procedure;

- the use of prototype for the achievement of on farm compost is currently in progress and will

continue after the end of LIFE project

This activity was postponed in respect with the planned initial set up for the delay associated

with the amendment to Grant Agreement related to the replacement of initial Beneficiary Terra

Orti with the actual Prima Luce. The main problems encountered where related to the initial

acquisition of different administrative permissions, for the lack of specific regulations and clear

institutional referents, for the attainment of a large on-farm composting facility, which exceed

the minimal requirements usually requested for the managements of organic residues in a small

farm. The maximum efforts were hence sustained by the project management and by the

Beneficiaries Prima Luce and Unibas to overcome all the initial constraints and drawbacks.

With a delay of about 2 months with the scheduled programme, the implementation Action B.1

was completed within II the trimester 2014, with the achievement of the LIFE on-farm

composting plan at the Project site of Associated beneficiary Prima Luce. All the technical data

related to the composting plant have been already submitted and uploaded in the project

website. The composting plant has a total area of about 4000m2, with 2400m2 under coverage.

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Accordingly with the planned activities the transfer from UNIBAS of composting technologies

and know-how, to the management of beneficiary PRMA LUCE has been completed. The

beneficiary Prima Luce is currently the main responsible for the attainment of compost and the

management of the composting plan. The Action B.1 is hence focused on the attainment of on

farm compost for field tests plots located in the horticultural and orchard systems

The actual composting activities is based on multiple (12) simultaneous lines of compost

production, with two main types of composts based on either vernal/summer or winter

horticultural crops, and woody structural materials, using the cultural residues from agricultural

activities of both, beneficiary Prima Luce and on the contribution of the other farms belonging

to the farmer association. (Please refer to the point 5.1.4 Monitoring action C1 for the

characterization of on-farm composts). Particularly, since the yield in compost appears to be

strongly influenced by the type of input material and especially by its dry matter content, two

different types of compost were obtained: "heavy compost" and "light compost". The first type

was obtained with the use of nutritional matrixes with a high dry matter content (i.e. tomato

plants, pepper, walnut husk, artichoke, etc.) and, therefore, characterized by an high yield into

compost. Instead, the "light compost" (the most common product at “Prima Luce” composting

plant) was obtained from matrices with a low dry matter content (i.e. Lettuce, arugula, fennel,

etc.) which typically determine low yields of the final product.

The starting working hypothesis was based on a produced annual amount of about 5000 ton of

fresh mature compost, with an average of 10 tons ha-1 for soil amendment. The amount of mature

compost was in turn calculated from the final 50 % yield from the following estimated amounts of

available crop residues, as reported in the proposal

17

In respect to these estimated availabilities, lower amounts were currently processed with respect

to high dry weight residues represented by artichoke, tomato, pepper, eggplants funnels thereby

reducing the annual amount of fresh mature compost (2000 tn/year)

As outlined hereafter in the dissemination activities (5.2.2) the achievement of the composting

plant has produced a “flywheel” response with respect to the innovation related with the recycle

of organic residues in the on-farm compost, thereby engaging the partners (ALSIA, UNIBAS)

to develop a large range of dissemination activities. This has promoted a spin-off activity with

the request of other farmer association to have a technical support for the development of

similar composting plants (please refer to point 5.2..4 for the details of the dissemination

activity) .

As indicated in the previous deliverables on the economical evaluation of composting process,

the operative problems are mainly related to the huge amounts of fresh organic biomasses and

residues which would require a corresponding complement with ligneous-woody fractions, not

always available in the associated farms of Terra Orti, for the timing required for the 12

composting lines activated. The periodical shortage of raw woody fraction is partially faced

with the recycling of coarse ligneous fraction with the final refining and screening procedure of

mature composts. This lack of structuring fraction has as a direct consequence a decrease on the

yield in the dry weight compost produced and the relative increase on the specific costs for tn

unit of final dry composts. The actual costs breakdown for 20 years of composting activity

(including all fixed and operative expenses) yield a result of 168 €/tn for light compost and 98

€/tn for heavy compost (Technical Annex 7.2 l – Deliverable Intermediate report on Action

C5). These amounts refer to dry materials and include also the costs for transport of biomass to

composting facility and the expenses related to field distribution.

An equivalent product may be represented by the manure derived products and of peat based

products for the flower growing activity which costs range around 300 €/ton. As additional

comparative example the average costs for a public industrial composting plant for the organic

fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) located in Toscana are about 67€/tn, with an

investments of about € 12,000,000 and 30 year of working activity (Bollettino Ufficiale Regione

Toscana n.43/2007)

(http://www.atotoscanacentro.it/upload/ato_toscana_centro/gestionedocumentale/01_2211_impi

anto_compostaggio_casepasserini_sesto_784_2018.pdf)

Available data for municipal/industrial composting plants for the organic fraction of MSW in

various EU countries indicate the operative annual costs (excluding initial investments) that

range from 20 to more than 200€ /tn. These costs exclude the transport and field distribution.

18

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/publications/pdf/compost_it.pdf).

The needs to provide a periodical substantial amount of woody parts, retrieved from the local

territory, have also produced some additional costs, unforeseen in the Grant Agreement, for the

collection and transport of these materials (please refer to comments in the financial section 6.1)

The attainment of on farm composting prototype has exceeded the planned costs included in the

Grant Agreements; please refer to the notes included hereafter in the Comment to financial

report (6.1).

In comparison with the planned budget, a larger amount of personnel was requested in the

activities related to, both, the set-up of composting plant and especially for the planning,

organization, activation associated with the transfer of know how (beneficiary UNIBAS), and

with the daily working management of composting process (beneficiary Prima Luce)

The production of on farm compost is becoming a key central aspect for the operative farming

activities of beneficiary PRIMA LUCE, which main productive target is based on biological

products. Therefore the operation of composting plant and the attainment of green compost is

expected to continue without any problems beyond the time limit (5 years) after the end of LIFE

project, foreseen in the Common Provisions and in the Grant Agreement for the attainment of

the composting prototype.

19

5.1.2 Action B.2 Set up of laboratory facilities for the production of biomimetic catalyst.

Proposal start date: September 2013 Proposal end date: March 2017 Current situation

Actual start date: October 2013 Expected end date: July 2018


Beneficiary responsible CERMANU As specified in the previous reports, the implementation of Action B.2 has been partially

modified with respect to the planned objective to develop an in house synthesis of the

biomimetic catalyst (iron-porphyrin). The technical change has proceeded as follows:

- an initial attempt was done to evaluate the possibility to carry out an outsourcing of the in

house synthesis of the catalyst; in this respect an agreement was established with the

SienaBiotech company

-following the not positive results, mainly related to the diseconomies of scale, the activity has

been hence structured with the acquisition of the basic of porphyrin from international suppliers,

followed by the “catalytic activation” based on metal insertion and addition of sulfonate side

groups, in order to increase the water solubility of the catalyst, required for the field application

and for the improvement of reacting activity. This partial in-house synthesis was outsourced

trough a collaboration agreement with the Dept. Chemical Science and Technology of II

University of Rome-Tor Vergata (see Technical Annex 7.2a – Action B.2 Agreement with

University of Tor Vergata).

Both the above cited initiatives were already included in the proposal as possible alternative

solutions for the constraints and risks related to the synthesis of biomimetic catalyst.

In order to maintain the innovative aspects on SOC sequestration based on the field application

of biomimetic catalysts, and to reduce the risk of delays in the planned activities, the first

amount of biomimetic catalyst for the initial set up of project sites in 2014 was provided by the

stocks of CERMANU. The CERMANU has in fact available stocks of iron and manganese

porphyrins derived from the well documented long term (15 years) experience in the utilization

of metal porphyrin for SOC sequestration, with the development of previous research project and

the acquisition of national and international patents on these applications.

Following the agreement with the University of Tor Vergata, an initial acquisition of basic

porphyrin was hence performed and the stocks of activated iron porphyrin are delivered to

CERMANU for the field applications. The acquired quantity are 300 g of basic porphyrin which

20

correspond to about 420 g of activated molecule. The inclusion of iron and the addition of

sulfonate groups produce in fact an increase of 40% in the final molecular weight.

The annual addition for field application for the two project sites of University of Torino and

Napoli (Tetto Frati and Castel-Volturno) is: plot 48m2*0.5g /m2*4 replicates*2 sites= 192 grams

The technical modification is not expected to produce any change, nor for the budgeted costs

allocated to this action, neither for the objectives and deadlines reported in the project. However

this modification has produced a variation in the budget allocated in the financial categories

Consumables and External assistance (please refer to the comments provided in the financial

section 6.1)

The innovative action was included among the activities to continue beyond the end of LIFE

project for the farm site of University of Napoli. Notwithstanding the unfavourable economical

feedbacks responses already obtained, as indicated in the proposal, this activity will be extended

after the LIFE project in the project site of University of Napoli, given the scientific and practical

interest and the increasing concern of international policies on SOC sequestration practices.

In this respect, as proposed in previous communications, alternative options are currently

explored for the improvement of catalytic activity of modified porphyrins:

- immobilization of metal porphyrin on a natural clay support: this modification reduce the risks

related with the leaching of added molecule thereby enhancing the persistence in soil, and the

efficiency of catalytic activity. This option has been already included into LIFE methodologies

through the additional monitoring activities activated in collaboration with the University of

Wageningen included in Action C.2 (see point 5.1.5 Action C.2)

- combination of biomimetic catalyst, through surface adsorption, with heterogeneous particles

of specific metal-oxides (e.g. TiO2) which increase the available surface to interact with the

DOM components of soil, further strengthening the catalytic chemical stabilization for SOM.

The main advantage of this technique is the lower costs of metal-oxides. (please refer to the

Technical Annex 7.2b– scientific upgrade for Action B.2)

21

5.1.3 Action B.3 Set up of project sites

Beneficiary responsible CERMANU Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: � Piemonte (beneficiary responsible AGROSELVIT): project sites Tetto Frati, Grandi � Campania: - project site Castel-Voturno (beneficiary responsible CERMANU); - project site Prima Luce (beneficiaries responsibles PRIMA LUCE, CREA-ORT); -project site Mellone (beneficiary responsible UNIBAS); Proposal start date: I trimester

2014 Proposal end date: July 2018

(to continue) Actual situation

Actual start date: March 2014 Expected end date: July 2018


In respect to the requests included in the communication for the Third Monitoring visit, sent on -

10/12/2015 (Ref. Ares 2015 5733056) for Action B3 point 5, please find herewith attached in the

Annexes the signed agreement with commercial farmers for the conduction of LIFE activities

(Annex 7.2c Technical Annex - Agreements for commercial farms Grandi and Mellone)

The field activities associated to Implementation action B.3 started at the project sites of

universities of Napoli (Castel Volturno), and Torino (Tetto Frati) and at the commercial farm

Grandi (Grugliasco) in the II semester 2014 (April/May). The set up of field plots were based on

the annual application of SOM managements, as indicated in the planned protocol:

Tetto Frati: 0 Nitrogen, 1000 and 2000 kg of C ha-1 with compost from Marco Polo (CMPB, CMPA); 1000 and 2000 kg of C ha-1 with solid phases of digestate from Marco Polo (SSMPB, SSMPA); application of biomimetic catalyst (PORF, 0.5 g/m2) and traditional agronomic technique (mineral fertilization). Grandi: 0 Nitrogen, 1000 and 2000 kg of C ha-1 with compost from Marco Polo (CMPB, CMPA); 1000 and 2000 kg of C ha-1 with solid phases of digestate from Marco Polo (SSMPB, SSMPA), and traditional agronomic technique (mineral fertilization) Castel Volturno(beneficiary responsible CERMANU): TRAD mineral fertilization; CMP-B and CMP-A compost addition lower and high dose (10, 20 t ha-1) with on farm manure compost; PORF: soil addition with biomimetic catalyst (0.5 kg ha-1). Maize was used at both University farms while horticultural open field crops (1st year: lettuce and cabbage; 2nd year lettuce and broccoli) were cultivated at Grandi farm. The actual sizes of field plots at the different project sites are as follow: - Tetto Frati 28 plots (7 treatments with four replicate) plot size 60 m2

- Grandi 24 plots (6 treatments with four replicates) plot size 28 m2

- Castel Volturno 16 plots (4 treatments with four replicates plot size 48 m2

22

The field activities involving the utilization of on-farm compost produced by the LIFE

composting plant, started at Prima Luce, with the selection of field plots for horticultural crops in

the III trimester 2014.

The following treatments are currently applied: A: control no fertilization; B traditional organo-mineral fertilizer; C on-farm compost 10 tons ha-1; D on-farm compost 20 tons ha-1 Three crop cycle were carried out: escarole (october 2014-march 2015); pumpkin (may 2015-august 2015); broccoli (October 2015-april 2016) The field size at Prima Luce is based on 12 plots (4 treatment with 3 replicates) and a plot size of about 280 m2 The project activities for two orchard system (kiwi and peach) in the project site of farm Mellone,

started in the IV semester 2014 with the selection of field plots for the application of on farm

compost and of 13C labelled compost. The labelled compost was obtained with the inclusion of

sorghum crops cultivated in the spring/summer 2014 at the project site of Prima Luce. The field

scheme for on farm compost distribution in orchards is as follows:

two systems: kiwi and peach; two composts: A “summer” and B “winter” depending on the crop

residues used in composting process; three doses 0 control , 1 10 tons ha-1, 2 20 tons ha-1

In each control plots a sub-plot has been set for the addition of 13C labelled on farm compost

obtained by sorghum. The field size for both orchard systems are based on 18 plots with an

average of 900 m2 for each plot

In respect to the explanation requested in the communication for the Third Monitoring visit, (Ref.

Ares 2015 5733056 10/12/2015) for Action B3 point 1, related to the farming surface used for on-

farm compost distribution at Terra Orti consortium, the calculation indicated in the proposal, refer

to the reasonable productive crop extension of the consortium which may be profit of the on farm

compost application at the steady running conditions. The starting working hypothesis was based

on a produced annual amount of about 5000 ton of fresh mature compost, with an average of 10

tons ha-1 for soil amendment, produced an estimation of about 500 ha of cropped surface in

cooperative farms. As indicated in Action B.1 the actual lower production of compost will result in

a consequent lowering in the extension of amended fields

All the project field tests will continue with the annual application of SOM management

practices, at the university sites of Napoli -Castel Volturno (maize) and Torino -Tetto Frati

(maize), and at the commercial farms Grandi (horticultural crops), Prima Luce (horticultural

crops) and Mellone (orchards).

Please refer to the Annex associated with Action B.3 for the update of the project activities in all

project sites of Piemonte and Campania (Technical Annex 7.2d –Report on Action B.3)

23

Monitoring Actions The updated Gantt scheme requested with the communication sent on 21/05/2015 (Ares 2015 2121704) has been included in Technical Annx 7.2m

5.1.4. Action C.1 Monitoring of composting processes and characterization of compost quality

Beneficiary responsible UNIBAS Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: Biological Analyses: CREA ORT Molecular characterization: CERMANU

Proposal start date I trimester

2014 Proposal end date: July 2018 Actual situation

Actual start date I trimester 2014 Expected end date: July 2018


The action was activated with the analyses on compost materials used at different project sites:

solid digestate and compost from bio-digestate used in field activities in Piemonte; on-farm

compost from cow and buffalo manure used at Castel Volturno; twelve (12) on farm green

composts produced, from the starting composting activity, at the LIFE composting plant of

Prima Luce. The following analyses have been performed:

- chemical analyses: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), heavy metals, elemental analyses (C, N, H

content)

- biological analyses: microbial activity (hydrolase activity FDA), total amount od bacteria and

fungi with particular focus on potentially harmfull bacteria, such as Enterobacteria, Clostridium

spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella, total and faecal Coliforms and Streptococcus spp;

phytotoxicity/biostimulation on Lepidium sativum

- molecular characterization: solid state 13C CPMAS NMR; thermochemolysis GC-MS

-13C-OC isotopic content

All the analyzed composts were characterized by a scarce or null amount of heavy metals, with

a variation of total C and N contents depending on the different origins of raw biomasses used

for the composting processes. The biological assays showed a significant microbial activity in

all biomasses as measured by total respiration and FDA methodologies. As expected from

previous experiences and analyses the composts produced from agricultural biomasses are

characterized by a suppressive activity against two “soil-borne” phytopathogenic fungi,

Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia minor coupled with biostimulation activity on Lepidium,

although with some variability among analyzed composts depending on the different origin. The

first indications strengthen the well acknowledged working hypothesis that an important role in

24

the biological activity is played by the phenolic components related to the lignin derivatives;

however also the different combination of hydrophobic fraction and bio-labile components

(carbohydrates, peptide derivatives) is regarded as important regulator and modulators on the

interaction between the molecular composition and the biostimulation and hormone like activity

displayed by the humified fraction of composted biomasses towards both soil microbial activity

and plant physiology.

The large amount of data obtained on compost characteristics will be included, in combination

with the agronomical evaluations on different project sites and crops (see point 5.1.6 Action C.3)

for a comprehensive multivariate statistical evaluation, such as Principal Component Analyses,

which can be effectively used to project the originally multidimensional data into simplified

two- or three dimensional space, called a score plot. Even without specific knowledge of

statistical implications, these plots enable a rapid and direct evaluation of similarities, differences

and groupings among the original samples, thereby allowing a rapid and useful discrimination

and decoding of main variables involved in the analysed process. This evaluation is expected to

produce at the end of project useful confirms and innovative indications on the relation between

typology of recycled biomasses, composting processes, molecular composition of final

composts and effect on agro-ecosystems (e.g. SOC and biological activities)

The technical details are included in the Technical Annex 7.2e – Report on C1 Action

25

5.1.5 Action C.2 Monitoring of soil organic carbon stabilization and the improvement of physical and biological soil fertility

Beneficiary responsible: CERMANU

Proposal start date: I trimester


Actual start date: I trimester 2014 Expected end date: July 2018


The following monitoring activities have been performed in the different project sites: Piemonte: Tetto Frati, Grugliasco Soil Aggregate stability; TOC content (bulk soils and soil aggregate fractions); total N (bulk soils and soil aggregate fractions); SOM characterization: Initial humic substances (13C CPMAS NMR); bulk SOM by Termochemolysis GC-MS; PLFA; initial 13C labelled SOM (on soil plots added with organic materials compost and solid digestate) Campania: • Castel Volturno Soil Aggregate stability; TOC content (bulk soils and soil aggregate fractions); total N (bulk soils and soil aggregate fractions); SOM characterization: Initial humic substances (13C CPMAS NMR); bulk SOM by Termochemolysis GC-MS; PLFA; initial 13C labelled SOM (on soil plots added with compost) • Prima Luce Soil Aggregate stability; TOC content (bulk soils and soil aggregate fractions); total N (bulk soils and soil aggregate fractions); SOM characterization: Initial humic substances (13C CPMAS NMR); bulk SOM by Termochemolysis GC-MS; Biological analyses (CREA-ORT): dehydrogenase, hydrolase, β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase, glucosaminidase, invertase, phosphomonoestarase, arylsulphatase, urease, nitrate reductase and protease. EMI maps (UNIBAS) • Mellone (UNIBAS) TOC, total N, EMI ans ESAP maps The analyses of isotopic 13C content of soil plots amended with sorghum-based labelled compost are still ongoing. After two year of SOM management applications no statistical significative differences were

revealed at different project sites in respect to the distribution of soil aggregates and to overall

soil aggregate stability. However although the aggregation processes are mainly affected by the

different soil textural compositions, a slight prospective increase in the yield of stable macro-

aggregates (φ > 0.25 mm) was observed for the light textured soils of Tetto Frati and

Grugliasco for the field treatments based on soil addition with compost and solid digestate. In

line with the acknowledged hypothesis on aggregate hierarchy, this effect seems related with

26

the increase in the SOC concentration on micro aggregates and the progressive steady stable

incorporation of finest soil fractions into stable larger aggregate size particles.

An expected slight increase of bulk TOC content, ranging from 0.08 to 0.15 %, was shown in

average for all field treatments with organic matter addition, although the large results were

found in soil plots with higher composts doses.

The SOM characterization by thermochemolysis GC-MS revealed a prospective shift in the

molecular composition in all project sites, in filed plots amended with different compost

materials. The main variation are related to the increase of more hydrophobic recalcitrant

biopolyseters compounds (such as cutin and suberin derivatives) and lignin derivatives. These

variations have to be associated with the inclusion into SOM pools of composted organic

materials deriving from the recycling of agricultural biomasses.

The initial analysis on 13C isotopic SOM content, were performed on soil samples added with

fresh and composted organic biomasses of Tetto Frati, Grugliasco, and Castel Volturno before

and immediately after the first addition of organic materials. The initial isotopic enrichment

found in either bulk soils and soil aggregates after soil amendments, in respect to starting

situations, correspond fairly properly to the expected variation produced by the added OC

amounts, thereby confirming the effectiveness of 13C-OC analyses to discriminate among

native SOM pools and exogenous OC inputs.

The analyses of fatty acids from the membrane cellular components of soil microorganisms

(PLFA) revealed, at the second year of SOM managements, an increase for total yields for the

field plots based on soil amendment with organic materials in the project sites of Tetto Frati,

Grugliasco and Castel-Volturno, while no differences in the composition of microbial

communities were found among soil treatments with the exclusion of the higher dose of fresh

solid digestate, which revealed, for both the project sites of Tetto Frati and Grugliasco a larger

yields of fatty acids derivatives from mycorrizhal fungi.

In the project site of Prima Luce, after one year of crop cycles, the soil biological analyses did

not revealed sharp changes in soil microbial community catabolic characteristics, resulting in a

different utilization of carbon sources. Only the catabolic activity of the plots under the highest

dose of compost, was affected by organic amendments and able to metabolize carbon substrates

in different way. In particular the normalized paramenters conventiaonnay used as indicators of

microbial community “richness”, namely biodiversity Sannon’s index and AWCD (average

weight color development) showed differences between the soil treatments with the larger

significant values in the plots under 20 Mg ha-1 of compost addition.

27

The technical details are included in the Technical Annex 7.2f Deliverable – Report on C2

Action Second year

As indicated in the Progress report, an additional activity was implemented for Action

C.2, with a collaboration with Wageningen University (WUR). The collaboration started from

the application request for an internship training activity from a graduating student of the

Dept. of Soil Quality of WUR, following the publication of the definitive version project

website on the European portal system. The activity was based on short term laboratory

application of SOM managements based on compost amendments and soil addition with

biomimetic catalyst, on the soil collected from the project sites of Tetto Frati and Castel

Volturno. The laboratory incubation was carried for six months, from June to December 2015,

involving analysis on TOC content, PLFA and soil humic susbstances. The results of

internship activity are included in the Technical Annex 7.2g annex-Internship activity for

C2 Action

28

5.1.6 Action C.3 Monitoring of the agronomical, phytopathological and practical sustainability of proposed strategies

Beneficiary Responsible CREA-ORT Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: Project sites Tetto Frati: AGROSELVIT Project site Castel Volturno: CERMANU Project site Mellone: UNIBAS

Proposal start date: I trimester 2014 Proposal end date: July 2018 Actual situation

Actual start date: I trimester 2014 Expected end date: July 2018


This action involve with the determination of yields, photosynthetic status, nutrient uptakes for the following crop at different project sites

• Tetto Frati (2 crop cycles) crop: maize: yield, total N and P content, photosynthetic status • Grugliasco (4 crop cycles) crops: lettuce, cabbage, lettuce and broccoli: yields, total N and P

content, photosynthetic status • Castel Volturno (2 crop cycles) crop: maize: yield, N and P content, photosynthetic status • Prima Luce (3 crop cycles) crops endive-scarole, pumpkin, broccoli (ongoing activity);

yields, commercial size, dry matter • Mellone (1 crop cycle) crops peach and kiwi: yield, commercial size, dry matter content,

firmness, colour, solids soluble content, titrable acidity, total nitrogen, total polyphenols, antioxidant activity; photosynthetic status

A slight decrease in maize yields was found, for both crop cycles, in the project site of Tetto

Frati for soil treatments with organic matter addition with respects to the traditional mineral

fertilization, while the lowest amount for maize grain was shown by the control plots without

N fertilization. No differences were shown in respect to the nutrient N and P concentration

between treatments.

Similar results for both maize yield and grain uptakes were also found for the field plots of

Castel Volturno site, with both compost treatments showing decreasing yiels at the second

year in respect with traditional fertilized plots.

Conversely positive effect of organic matter additions were found for the lettuce crops in the

project site of Grandi in the second year of SOM management applications. The largest yield

was shown for the soil addition with larger compost dose, + 10 t ha-1 in fresh weight, in

respect to the traditional treatment which showed a positive results only in comparison with

no N plots. No statistical significant variations were found in both crop cycles for the

Brassicaceae crops, a part for the steady lower yield for soil treatment with no N fertilization.

No differences were revealed for the horticultural crops at Prima Luce for both scarole and

pumpkin crops.

29

For orchards, notwithstanding the ten-year biological farming typology of Mellone farm, the

first application of compost was already able to produce noticeable differences in either yield

and/or quality of analysed systems. For kiwi the main effect were mainly related to the larger

content of total polyphenol (+8/9 %) and solid soluble content ,for soil management with high

doses (20 tons ha-1)of both summer-A2 and winter-B2 composts, while the high variability

partially masked the effect on antioxidant activity.

For peach fruits significant increase were observed for amended plots as compared to

control, for average yield/plant (+47-100 %), average yield/ha (+60-100%) total dy matter

content and total N content. Please refer to Technical Annex 7h – Deliverable Report on C3

Action second year

30

5.1.7 Action C.4 Monitoring of greenhouse gases emissions

Beneficiary Responsible CERMANU

Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: Project sites Tetto Frati: AGROSELVIT Project site Mellone: UNIBAS

Proposal start date: II trimester 2014

Proposal end date: July 2018 Actual situation

Actual start date: June 2014 Expected end date: July 2018


The measurements of field GHG emissions involve the project sites of Tetto Frati and Castel

Volturno as representatives of farming systems based on annual crops, characterized by the

periodical succession of cultivation and bare soil. In this respect a modification has been

introduced to the original proposal, with the replacing of Prima Luce with the orchard at

Mellone farm for the GHG analyses, in order to deal with a more comprehensive dataset which

will thus include a different system, based on a multi-year cultivation and soil use with a

maintenance of vegetation cover, and organic/biological management. This modification has

implied a delay with respect to the data acquisition proposed in the Grant Agreement which will

start at Mellone site in the spring 2016. This postponement was also related to technical

problems for the design of an automatic electronic system for the GHG collection and analyses

as indicated in the proposal (wireless automatic accumulation system equipped with 8

respiration chambers made by the UNIBAS). In order to match the initial target of an adequate

multi-year array of GHG emissions the analyses will be continued after the formal end of the

project as already foreseen for the project site of Castl-Volturno and Tetto Frati

The monitoring of gas fluxes is started in line with the planned activities at the project site of

Castel Volturno whit the collection of two year of field GHG emissions, which include both

cropping cycle, from June to October, and uncultivated period from November to May, with

some break between December and February during the heavy rain events. The measurements

are carried out with fixed system based on ten automated closed static chambers, placed in field

test plots, connected to a Photoacustic Field Gas Monitor. Two collecting chambers are placed

in the intercrop rows as control. No main differences were found, for all the analysed periods,

in soil treatments with low dose of compost and biomimetic catalyst in respect to traditional

plots, while a large CO2 emission was revealed in the second year of SOM managements for

the filed plots with the large dose of compost addition. Similar system is used at Tetto Frati site;

the acquisition of field data is started in the second year of project activities. No significative

differences were found in the first campaign of GHG analysis form the different managed plots.

The initial delay for the C4 action was due to set up of combined activity related to the GHG

emission from the organic matrices used in project sites. This activity is based on laboratory

31

incubation in closed chambers of four organic materials (compost and solid digestate, used at

Tetto Frati and Grandi sites, on farm manure compost used at Castel Volturno and on farm

green compost used at Prima Luce) with two model soils of different textural composition, and

Gas Chtomatographic measurements of GHG. The GHG analyses (N2O, CO2 and CH4) have

been performed from June to October 2015 with about twenty sampling time measurements.

The data highlight the decrease of GHG emission of alle composts in respect to either the

mineral fertilizers (e.g. urea) and to fresh solid digestate, thereby supporting the advantage of

organic matter stabilization through the composting process. Please refer to the Technical

Annex 7.2i – Deliverable Report on C4 Action second year

32

5.1.8. Action C.5 Monitoring the environmental and economical sustainability of proposed strategies

Beneficiary Responsible AGROSELVIT Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: UNIBAS

Proposal start date: I trimester


Actual start date: II trimester 2014

Expected end date: July 2018 (to continue)

In progress

The activities related with the evaluation of composting facility started in June 2014 following

the initial postponement in the realization of on farm composting facility. The assessment of

overall sustainability of project approaches have already produced the evaluation of the on-farm

composting facilities of Prima Luce and of the composting cycle of production at the project site

of Prima Luce. An updating of energetic and economical impacts are included in the Technical

Annex 7.2l Deliverable Intermediate Report for Action C.5

Following the set-up of tests plots, a comprehensive protocol for the inclusion of the

economical, environmental and energetic inputs related to the different cropping systems was

elaborated through feedback process and sharing between partners. The data acquisition on

defined economical, agronomical and environmental impacts of project for the different cropping

systems and SOM managements is started in each project sites. The analyses of the outputs is

being performed by the beneficiaries AGROSELVIT in coordination with UNIBAS.

In order to assess the environmental and economic sustainability software GaBi 6 was

purchased, protocol for data collection has been outlined and data related to 2 years of cultivation

were collected. Two PE INTERNATIONAL GaBi Databases were purchased. They are the

largest internally consistent LCA databases on the market today and contain over 7,000 ready-to-

use Life Cycle Inventory profiles. The first is “GaBi Professional” database: it is the standard

database provided with the GaBi software. The GaBi professional database is regularly updated

and is derived from industry sources, scientific knowledge, technical literature, and internal

patent information creating a solid foundation for assessing your materials, products, services and

processes. The second is more agricultural oriented and it is called “Renewable raw materials”

database. Renewable raw materials contains 140 processes: fertilizers, pesticides, tractors,

agricultural equipment, industrial intermediate products, and different crops (corn, wheat, hemp,

flax, rape seat, soybean, etc.). The scenarios and impact assessments were modelled and

computed by GaBi 6 software by using ILCD (International Reference Life Cycle Data System),

33

EDIP (Environmental Design of Industrial Products) method of impact assessment. Impact

assessment category selected are: Global Warming Potential (IPCC), Acidification Potential

(EDIP), Freshwater Eutrophication Potential (RECIPE) and Terrestrial Eutrophication Potential

(RECIPE). In order to assess and compare the sustainability of different crops production three

Function Units were selected. The impacts are reported per harvested production (product

oriented), per cultivated land (surface oriented) and finally per crop revenues, in order to add the

impact of different crops cultivated on the same land, during the same year.

.

34

5.1.9. Action C.6 Monitoring the acquired awareness about available techniques for soil organic carbon stabilization and accumulation and bioresources valorisation Beneficiary Responsible AGROSELVIT Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: ALSIA

Proposal start date: I trimester 2015

Proposal end date: July 2018 Actual situation

Actual start date: IV trimester 2014


In progress

For The activities related to Action C.6, specific questionnaire was conceived, by

beneficiary AGROSELVIT, focused on the current knowledge about soil fertility, GHG

emissions, technique of carbon sequestration, and organic fertilizer in Piemonte.

The questionnaire is based on the awareness about the effects of sustainable practices adopted

on soil organic matter (SOM) management and in particular the effects about the compost use

in agriculture. About 40 questionnaires were returned . The overall results of surveys have been

uploaded on the project website.

Currently additional questionnaires have been conceived by associated beneficiary ALSIA,

related to the actual management of agricultural residues and biomasses in the agricultural

farms of Basilicata territory. The questionnaires were distributed to selected agricultural farms

by the technician of ALSIA, and about 200 questionnaire were compiled and returned. The

elaboration of the questionnaires is in progress and the results will be uploaded on the website

With respect to the specific remark stated in the Communication for the 3rd Monitoring visit

(Ares 2015 5733056 - 10/12/2015) at point 6 of Technical issues, please note that, although

AGROSELVIT is the main responsible as internal coordinator of C6 action, the target objective

indicated in the proposal of about 1000 questionnaires (i.e. about 250/year) is envisaged as

global project objective and involve the participation of all public bebneficiaries. Actually

about 240 questionnaires have been collected. In order to match the initial target to improve the

public awareness on the project strategies, the conceived initial questionnaires will merge into

a global survey document elaborated from AGROSELVIT in collaboration with ALSIA and

REGCAMP that will be used in the planned dissemination activities ( conferences, workshops

and info-days) and uploaded on the project website as well as on dedicated web page of

associated regional institution and of the university departments.

35

5.1.8 Action E1 Technical planning/ Technical, administrative and financial management and Monitoring of the project progress

Proposal start date: July 2013 Proposal end date: July 2018 Actual situation Actual start date: July 2013 Expected end date: July 2018 In progress

Beneficiary Responsible CERMANU

Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: AGROSELVIT, ALSIA, CREA-ORT, PRIMA LUCE, REGCAMP, UNIBAS

Two Project Committee Meeting (Milestones) were organized on the 30th July 2015 and

on the 15th December 2015, at the premises of REGCAMP, and of CERMANU respectively

(7.1a Administrative annex – Minutes of Committee project meetings)

The third Monitoring visit of the representative of the External Monitoring team was held

on 19 and 20 November, 2015 at the premises of AGROSELVIT

All the various activities were steadily monitored by regular communication among the

technical management board, with periodic videoconferences held at monthly interval

The Financial reports of each beneficiary, are included in Annex 7.1g Administrative annex-

Financial reports. The consolidate costs statement and payment request are included in the

Financial report of Coordinating Beneficiary Cermanu.

For all Public Beneficiaries (AGROSELVIT, ALSIA, CERMANU, CREA-ORT, REGCAMP,

UNIBAS) the VAT are non-recoverable expenses and are included as eligible costs. In this

respect please find enclosed the respective declarations included in Annex 7.1g Financial

reports: VAT Declarations)

36

5.2 Dissemination actions

5.2.1 Objectives The goal of dissemination activities is ensure the achievement of effective transfer of

background, objectives and results of the project to the wider audience of professional

categories and target stakeholders in the local territories.

As indicated in the proposal the achievement of on farm composting prototype represent the

effective transfer of on farm composting technologies in the farming site of commercial

beneficiary, and will have as beneficial effect to highlight the virtuous cycle based on the

combination of environmental and agro-economical objectives. Furthermore the utilization in

the various farming sites of composts from different local organic biomasses, will have as

important output the productive valorisation of agricultural residues as important local bio-

resources

In respect to the Dissemination annexes please be aware that, excluding the expected

deliverables (Brochure for workshops and demonstrative days, Compost "on farm" manual, 2nd

Version of Project leaflet) submitted in both paper and electronic forms, all the dissemination

materials are provided only in the electronic forms.

The main Dissemination events have been summarised in the following tables

List of events organized by beneficiaries Type of events Date Location Attendance/Objective Annexes

Action D3 Press Conferences and workshop/demonstration days Initial Press Conference 24/02/2014 Napoli Centro

Congressi Number of participants: 105

Presentation of LIFE CarbOnFarm project Annex 7.3f

Playbill

14 Workshops

9/10/2014 11-18-25/11/2014 2-9-16/12/2014

27/1/2015 17-31/3/2015

Dept of University of Basilicata

Number of participants: 180 Seminars focusing on main project themes

dedicated to Technician, Agronomist, Farmers

Annex 7.3f Program/Lists of participants/ Web announcements

4 Workshops

17/06/2015 24/06/2015 01/07/2015 01/08/2015

Visit of the on farm composting plant at

Prima Luce

Number of participants: 69 Seminars focusing on main project themes

dedicated to Agronomist and Farmers

Annex 7.3f Program/List of

participants/Pictures of events/ Agreement ALSIA and Regional

Agronomist Association

Demonstration day 15/09/2015

Visit of the project sites of Castel

Volturno

Number of visitors: 54 Majors of Castel Volturno and Cancello

Arnone; Director of Agricultural Dept; Rector of University of Napoli; Farmers; Technicians

Annex 7.3f Program/Pictures of event

4 Demonstration day

7/7/2015 12-27/11/2015

22/12/2015

Visit of the on farm composting plant at

Prima Luce

Number of visitors: 135 Agronomist

Farmers; Technicians of Regione Basilicata

Annex 7.3f Web announcements/Pictures of

events/List of participants

Action D4 Info days for students

Info day 03/11/2014 Visit of the Project site of Tetto Frati

Number of students 84 Dedicated to students of Agricultural Department

of University of Torino

Annex 7.3g Pictures of event

Info day 30/11/2014 Visit of the Project

site of Castel Volturno

Number of students 26 Dedicated to students of Agricultural Department

of University of Napoli

Annex 7.3g Pictures of event

Info days 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 October

2015

Visit of the on Fam Composting plant

of Prima Luce

Number of students 292 Dedicated to students of Higher School for

Agricultural Technicians/Agricultural Engineers /

Info day 27/05/2015 Regional park “CEA Oasi

Alento”

Number of students: 95 Domestic composting techniques – Visit to Prima

Luce composting plant – Demonstration to middle school students

Annex 7.3g List of participants (Teachers)

38

Info day 14/05/2015 University campus

Number of students: 60 Domestic composting techniques –

Demonstration to middle school students within TREND-EXPO 2015 activities

/

Info day 6/9/2015 Visit of the Project site of Tetto Frati

Number of students 90 Dedicated to University students of Agricultural

Department of University of Torino /

Info day 26/02/2015 Istituto Agrario

“Solimene” Lavello (PZ)

Number of students: 85 Composting technologies-SOM

Dedicated to students of Higher School for Agricultural Technicians/Agricultural Engineers

Annex 7.3g Application letter for Info day

11 Workshops from18/11/2015 to 10/02/2016

Agricultural Dept of University of

Napoli

Number of students: about 15 for each seminar Seminars dedicated to PhD students of

Agricultural Dept of University of Napoli

Annex 7.3g Program/Lists of

Participants/Pictures of events

Action D5 Mid-term and Final Conference

Mid term conference

26/27 May Potenza

Aula Magna University of

Basilicata Potenza

Participants about 150 LIFE CarbOnFarm - Mid Term conference

Presentation of intermediate results Round Table on biomass recycling:

Agronomical, Environmental, Legislative issues

Annex 7.3h Program/ 2nd version of Notice

boards with project results, Web announcement

Participation to meetings and conferences

Events Location/Date Participation Annex

Green Carbon Conference: Making Sustainable Agriculture Real

Brussels 1-3 April 2014 R. Spaccini (CERMANU)

Poster presentation (2)

Annex 7.3f Book of abstract (pags

29/30)/Posters

Meeting “Rifiuti organici come risorsa” Matera 3/10/2015 Oral presentations G. CELANO

(UNIBAS) R. Sileo (ALSIA) Annex 7.3f

Program Meeting ORT-MED Orticoltura in Ambiente

Mediterraneo Pontecagnano (SA)

8/10/2015 R. Spaccini (CERMANU)

Oral presentation Annex 7.3f

Program /Presentation International Italian-Chinese workshop "Innovative

technologies for carbon sequestration " Bejing PRC from 8 to 11

March 2016 A. Piccolo CERMANU Presentation

of LIFE CarbOnFarm Annex 7.3f

Playbill/Web announcement

5.2.2 Action D1. Project website

Proposal start date: IV trimester 2014

Proposal end date: July 2018 (to continue)

Actual situation

Actual start date: IV trimester 2014


In progress

Beneficiary responsible REGCAMP

Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: AGROSELVIT, ALSIA, CARMANU, CREA-ORT, PRIMA LUCE, UNIBAS

The website (www.carbonfarm.eu) is currently active; following the indications included in the

Communications sent by the Commission on 17/04/2015, relative to the Progress Report (Ares

2015 1638988), and on 10/12/2015 relative to the Third monitoring visit (Ares 2015 5733056),

the following data have been uploaded:

-the LIFE logo has been included on all the pages of the website

- Action B.1 : video on composting plan (home page), the deliverables on Action B.1

(evaluation of economical and environmental sustainability of composting plan and activities-

download page).

- Contacts: the page has been activated

- Project progress: upgrade on the technical progress have been included in the download

page

- The results of the surveys, described in Action C.6, based on questionnaires have been

uploaded

5.2.3 Action D.2 LIFE+ notice boards, project leaflets, informative technical reports

Beneficiary responsible REGCAMP

Proposal start date: IV trimester 2014 Proposal end date: July 2018 Actual situation

Actual start date: II trimester 2014 Expected end date: July 2018 In progress

All the notice boards have been produced and have been placed at the premises of each

beneficiary (Dissemination Annex 7.3a – Initial version of Notice Boards). A second

version of Notice boards, which will include a summary of the project progress and results,

outlined in the present report, will be produced for the Mid Term Conference (Action D.5).

40

Simultaneously the same summary will be used for the attainment of second version of

project leaflet. An extended version of the intermediate project results will be used for the

Technical report. These dissemination materials will be also used for the dissemination events

(Workshop/demonstration days-Action D.3)

The initial version of project leaflet has been included in Dissemination Annex 7.3b – Initial

Project Leaflet

5.2.4 Action D.3 Press Conferences and workshop/demonstration days Beneficiary responsible ALSIA Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: AGROSELVIT, CERMANU, CREA-ORT, REGCAMP, UNIBAS

Proposal start date: I trimester 2014 Proposal end date: July 2018 Actual situation Actual start date: I trimester 2014 Expected end date: July 2018 In progress With respect to the activities planned for total project duration (minimum of 9 project

workshop/demonstration days) a larger number of initiatives have already been sustained; this

positive response was mainly related to the attainment of the first project objective

represented by the LIFE on farm composting plan at the project site of Prima Luce (Action

B.1), and also by the project activities related to the valorisation of local recycled agricultural

biomasses in agro-ecosystem to restore soil fertility. These actions and concepts have been

proposed on the starting dissemination events thereby further improving the feedback interest

and the attention of the stakeholders represented by the farmers, farmers association,

technician and the responsible of local administrative institutions. The attempt to capitalize

the dissemination effectiveness of this “flywheel” option, has hence slightly modified the

planned activities, focusing the initial project efforts in the Basilicata and Campania regions

in order to maximize the positive effects related to the on-farm composting plant. This

decision was based also on the practical requirements related to promote an increase of public

awareness on the thematic of on farm composting methodologies.

These positive communication has produced additional results on the reproducibility of

proposed approaches. In fact other commercial farm organizations (Farms Cerro

www.aziendaagricolacerro.it; La Colombaia wwwlacolomabaia.it; Ortomad www.ortomad.it,

Punzi www.punzi.it; Romanfruit www. Romanfruit.it) representatives of the local productive

economic agricultural sector (about 600 ha and 30 milion Euro of annual revenues) have

requested the possibility to collaborate with the LIFE CarbOnfarm for the involvement in the

41

dissemination activities and for the development of on farm composting processes (see

Dissemination Annex 7.3c – Application letters for Farm collaboration with LIFE

CarbOnFarm )

On the other hand this modification has produced a unforeseen delay for the organization of

workshop events in Piemonte region. Moreover an underestimated constraint is represented

by the asymmetrical geographical distribution of beneficiaries; while the inclusion of two the

agricultural departments of Regional institution of Basilicata and Campania has strongly

supported, promoted and hastened the dissemination activities, the lack of such corresponding

partner in Piemonte, with the AGROSELVIT as unique territorial partner, has also partially

slackened the local planned interventions. Moreover AGROSELVIT it is the unique project

partner involved in the management of two project field sites, which implies a time

consuming engagement of permanent staff and temporary personnel. A project effort will be

done to manage these drawback and, after the Mid term conference, the intention is to

organize each year two workshops events at the project farm sites, from early summer in

Tetto Frati to early autumn at Grandi, with the involvement of LIFE networking with the

LIFE HelpSoil project. Moreover additional event is programmed to involve the effective

participation of Marco Polo company, the supplier of compost from solid digestate, in order to

exploit its network connections to strengthen the focus of stakeholders on the SOM

managements strategies

Measurable results: 1) Achievement of the deliverables expected for this action for the reporting period, namely

Brochure for workshops and demonstrative days and Compost "on farm" manual, 2nd Version

of Project leaflet (see, Dissemination Annex - 7.3d “Project brochure”. “Composting

manual”, “Leaflet” ). About 2000 copies of Compost manual and about 2500 copies of

Project Brochure and 2nd Project Leaflet have been produced. These dissemination products

have already been used for the workshops and demonstration days detailed hereafter.

2) attainment of two video carried out in the LIFE CarbOnFarm facility of Prima Luce, on the

on farm composting process and on the benefit of compost for SOM managements. The two

versions, realized by REGCAMP and ALSIA, have been conceived with different duration to

be applied as effective dissemination and communication in workshop events (short clip) and

training activities (extended clip) for farmers and students. Dissemination Annex 7.3e–

Video on farm composting process.

42

2) The dissemination events organized by the different Beneficiaries (please refers to the

previous table for a comprehensive summary) :

� Workshops (7) at the premise of UNIBAS dedicated to technician, agronomists, farmers

and farmer association (Responsible ALSIA, UNIBAS)

� Demonstration day (5) at the LIFE composting plant at the project site of Prima Luce, for

farmers, farmers association and regional technician (Responsible ALSIA-REGCAMP)

� Demonstration day at the project site of University of Napoli Castel Volturno –

15/09/2015) (Responsible CERMANU)

� Presentation of project activities at the following meetings

-- Green Carbon Conference Brussels 1-3 April 2014

- Meeting “Rifiuti organici come risorsa” (Organic residues as resource) Matera 3/10/2015

- Meeting ORT-MED Pontecagnano (SA) 8/10/2015

- International Italian-Chinese workshop "Innovative technologies for carbon sequestration in

cropped soils to sustain future agricultural intensification and population growth" held in

Bejing from 8 to 11 March 2016

5.2.5 Action D.4 Info-days (to students)

Beneficiary responsible UNIBAS Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: AGROSELVIT, CERMANU

Proposal start date: II trimester 2015 Proposal end date: July 2018 Actual situation

Actual start date: IV trimester 2014 Expected end date: July 2018


The following dissemination events dedicated to students have been organized by the different

Beneficiaries:

- Seminars dedicated to PhD students of Agricultural Dept of University of Napoli-Castel-

Volturno (responsible CERMANU) for a total of 11 events

- Info days for University students of Agricultural department of University of Torino at the

Project sites of Tetto Frati and Grugliasco (3rd November 2014 and 6th November 2015)

(responsible AGROSELVIT)

- Info days for Secondary schools of Agricultural Science, including a visits of the LIFE

composting plant at the project site of Prima Luce, for a total of 9 events, (responsible ALSIA

REGCAMP- UNIBAS). The list of the secondary schools is the following

43

Istituto Omnicomprensivo di Marsicovetere; Istituto Professionale per l’Agricoltura Genzano;

Istituto tecnico Agrario Statale ‐ Lavello; Istituto Professionale per l'Agricoltura ‐Potenza ‐

Lagopesole; Istituto Professionale per l'Agricoltura ‐Sant'Arcangelo; Istituto Tecnico Agrario ‐

Marconia di Pisticci; Istituto tecnico Agrario Statale ‐ Lavello

5.2.6 Action D.5 Mid-term and final conference

Beneficiary responsible ALSIA Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: AGROSELVIT, CERMANU, CREA-ORT, REGCAMP, UNIBAS

Proposal start date: I trimester 2016 Proposal end date: II trimester

2018 Actual situation

Actual start date: II trimester 2016 Expected end date: II trimester

2018 In progress

In respect to the deadline indicated in the Milestones (30/03/2016), the Milestones represented

by the Mid term conference has been slightly postponed, in order to present and discuss all the

preliminary results obtained at the half of planned project activities. The Mid Term conference

has been performed the 26 and 27 of May 2016, at the premises of University of Basilicata

(UNIBAS) in Potenza. The first day has been dedicated to the presentation of project results,

with a special focus on the agronomic, economical and administrative issues related to the

composting activity. The second day has been dedicated to the visit of the LIFE con farm

composting prototype of Prima Luce and the filed activities carried out at both Prima Luce and

Mellone farms. The programme and the dissemination materialsincluding the 2nd version of the

Notice boards have been included in Dissemination Annex 7.3h D5 event (Mid term

conference)

An immediate positive feedback has been obtained following the round table held on the first

day with the representatives of Regional sector of Environment and Agriculture. In particular

the District Councillor of Environmental department has acknowledged the request of ALSIA to

present an official document related to the inclusion of the on farm composting activity in the

upcoming Regional Disposition for the waste treatments. Moreover the Councillor for

Agriculture has requested to ALSIA to develop a regional task force and a roadmap, with

project partners, in order to prepare an evaluation guide for the technical and scientific support

for the inclusion of on farm composting activity in the next programmed plan for Rural

Regional Development (PSR-Piano di Sviluppo Rurale).

44

5.2.7 Action D.8 Networking activities with other LIFE+ projects Beneficiary responsible CERMANU Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated: AGROSELVIT, UNIBAS A connection has been established with the following LIFE projects with the mutual uploading

of corresponding links on the project website:

OLIVE-CLIMA - LIFE11 ENV/GR/000942; LIFE HelpSoil - LIFE12 ENV/IT/000578;

LIFE+GREENWOOLF - LIFE12 ENV/IT/000439; LIFE EKOHEMPKON-LIFE 11 ENV/PL

445; LIFE AGROSTRAT LIFE11 ENV/GR/000951

A close collaboration has been activated by the beneficiary AGROSELVIT with the LIFE

Greenwoolf based on the existing connection among project activities and experiences

The two Life projects share the interest of giving value to agricultural wastes, upgrading them

into new valuable resources for the soil. While Carbonfarm is working on farm residues from

crop wastes and manure, the Greenwoolf project is working only on a specific residue of the

sheep rearing: the wool.A problem of the sheep livestock farming is that Italian breeds wool

(but also wool from many European breeds) does not anymore have a commercial value.

Therefore the production of wool is a cost for the any specialized sheeo farm and an ecological

problem as well as wool is often disposed in landfills. The Greenwoolf team is proposing and

calibrating a process for treating raw wool and transforming it into fertilizers. The Carbonfarm

helps the project through its own agronomic skills. The industrial project is producing a number

of potential fertilizer products, differing in terms of dry matter content, of availability of

mineral nutrients and of organic matter quality. The collaboration with Carbonfarm has created

the conditions through which these products are now tested in terms of chemical quality and of

fertilizer effects on the plant. The screening of all possible industrial processes will then use

these agronomic results as a new set of criteria to choose the best strategy to produce the most

efficient machine to be eventually commercialized. A programmed collaborative participation

to the workshops that will be hold in Piemonte and Campania will be proposed to the

representatives of LIFE HelpSoil and OliveClima, respectively. A common initiative is

programmed with the LIFE Helpsoil with the participation of Beneficiry Agroselvit to a

combined demonstrative day on June 9th 2016 (Dissemination Annex 7.3i D.8 Demonstrative

day Programm). Besides the interaction of LIFE CarbOnFarm and the LIFE AgroStart, a

future collaboration has been planned by the respective consortium, within the activities

planned in a new LIFE proposal (LIFE SaveSoil) which include the possible application of

45

LIFE CarbOnFarm approaches on other European countries involved in the new proposal

(Dissemination Annex 7.3l D.8 Supporting Letter for LIFE SaveSoil Proposal)

5.3 Evaluation of Project Implementation In this section you should evaluate the following aspects of the project: − Methodology applied: discuss the success and failures of the methodology applied, results of

actions conducted and the cost-efficiency of actions

The positive feedbacks already obtained at intermediate point of project activities are related to demonstrative activity based on SOM management with the utilization of recycled biomasses from local agricultural activities. The attainment of the LIFE on-farm composting plant strongly highlighted the feasibility of the ground hypothesis, by promoting an useful up to date and an effective demonstration on the possibility to recycle large amount of organic residues into stable compost with agronomical, environmental and economical valorization of organic wastes. Although the on farm composting process performed at the LIFE composting plant still have to be improved and refined to further reduce and optimize the cost efficiency, the indications already obtained, also in the agronomic applications, have sharply supported the dissemination activities and drawn the interest of local farmers and technicians to the adoption of project approaches at different productive scale. Moreover this choice was also effective in the Piemonte region whit the successful involvement from the start of project activities of the Marco Polo company, thereby strengthening also demonstration of the useful utilization of compost obtained from the plant treatment of feedstock slurries An intermediate result of the project methodologies is also related with the applied monitoring activities. An important innovation is represented by the transfer from the scientific background of beneficiaries on the evaluation of compost quality with biological essays (suppressivity and biostimulation) and molecular characterization which represent an innovation with respect to the classical analyses currently included in the legislations based on general and broad macro chemical features (e.g. C and N and C/N ratio etc.). The information related to the detailed molecular analyses may in fact greatly promote the application and steer the utilization of different type of composts. Another innovative aspect of monitoring activities is based on the field application of GHG measurements, which is situated to our knowledge among the first attempts to organize a multi-year temporal arrays of such a dataset from agricultural soils. The development and application of reliable systems of GHG collection and analyses on open fields represent an important challenge and, although it has already undergone to some delays with respect to planned commitments, it represent a cost effective activity which may deliver an important set of useful data to evaluate the environmental impact of SOM managements. Conversely a partial failure of initial objective was associated to the innovative activity based on SOC sequestration with the application of biomimetic catalyst. The supervening impossibility in the wished attempt to perform an in-house synthesis of modified prophyrin in the university laboratory, has modified the action implementation. The activity maintain unchanged the goal to strengthen the SOC stability by field application of biomimetic catalysts. An increasing scientific interest is given to the application of environmental sustainable catalysts in the process related to soil systems, (see the brief discussion in the following point). However the actual unavoidable requirement to refer for the acquisition of

46

the basic porphyrin to the specific restrained market of industrial catalytic application of international chemical companies, still greatly affect the cost-efficiency and represent an hindrance to the practical updating of this activity as current agronomic practice

−Compare the results achieved against the objectives: clearly assess whether the objectives

were met and describe the successes and lessons learned. This could be presented in a table which compares through quantitative and qualitative information the actions implemented in the frame of the project with the objectives in the revised proposal:

Task Foreseen in the revised proposal

Achieved Evaluation

B.1 on farm Composting prototype

Attainment of large scale on-farm compost

prototype (4000 m2 - 12

composting lines)

The on farm composting plant and the operative technical conditions of

composting process were in line with planned

commitments; a revise (downsizing) of the amount of compost produced has to be

performed for the excess of fresh light organic

materials in respect to the ligneous fraction

B.2 biomimetic catalysy

Reorganization of initial

objective with partial

maintenance of the in-house synthesis of

active catalyst

The amount of biomemitic catalyst will

allow to attain the planned field

applications; the actual cost-efficiency may

represent a limiting factor for the adoption of large sale agronomic practice

B.3 set up of project sites

Five project sites

have been activated

Effective application of planned SOM

managements in different representative cropping

systems

Monitoring actions

6 Monitoring

actions activated

Positive responses on the applied methodologies

for Compost characterization, SOM

evaluation and agronomical impacts

Dissemination action

6 dissemination

activities

Overall significative positive feedback responses on the

effectiveness of project approaches; initial drawback in the

47

unbalanced distribution of communication

activities

− Indicate which project results have been immediately visible and which results will only become apparent after a certain time period.

The most evident results are related to the feasible application of SOM managements based on the effective recycling of organic wastes and by-products from the agricultural activities in the local territories. This strategy has raised the attention of farmers and stakeholders for the evident agronomical and environmental advantages related to the on-farm composting processes As reported in the Soil Thematic Strategy Soil is "an extremely complex, variable and living medium and a non-renewable resource which performs many vital functions: food and other biomass production, storage, filtration and transformation of many substances including water, carbon, and nitrogen. The complexity of this multivariable medium, also in agro-ecosystems, in characterized by a strong resilience capacity which response to modifications produce a transition state for the attainment of new equilibrium among the interacting parameters. As indicated in the proposal the adoption of SOM managements introduced in LIFE CarbOnFarm, are thus expected to produce results in a medium and long term span. The expected results at end of the project are related to the stable improvement of SOC content (SOC sequestration), the variation of SOM qualities related to the progressive incorporation of exogenous organic materials, and the maintenance of crop productivity. Unexpected positive fast agronomic responses, which have to be confirmed in the continuation of project activities, were derived from the firsts field application of composts for the horticultural crops and orchards, which revealed a prospective initial benefits on the either crop yields and qualities from the applied composts. This result are related to those project sites of commercial farms that are currently applying the techniques of organic and biological farming systems; these systems thereby already underwent to a transition state and approaching a new steady state equilibrium, thus allowing the soil systems to take a fast benefit from the applied SOM managements At the end of the project the applied monitoring analyses, further integrated with the continuation of the planned activities for the after LIFE programme, are expected to produce a significant arrays of dataset for a comprehensive evaluation of the effect SOM managements on compost quality, crop productivity, soil fertility, SOC stabilization and GHG emissions

− Indicate effectiveness of the dissemination and comment on any major drawbacks The dissemination events carried out in the first half of project time-span, have produced a raising practical and scientific interest from the different stakeholder (farmers, technicians, agronomists, students) on the SOM management practices based on compost production from agricultural biomasses and on the possible benefits deriving from the application of high quality composts as current SOM management. An important “hotspot” for the diffusion of ground hypotheses and working practices was represented by the attainment of LIFE on-farm composting plant which has materialized the effectiveness of project strategies thereby accelerating and supporting the communication and dissemination. From this acquired target a

48

short term engagement is to exploit the increasing public awareness to support a “lobbying” action to improve the regional institutional commitment for a refining and improvement of public support for the valorization of organic waste into compost production. As already indicated the major drawbacks were related to the geographical asymmetry in the effectiveness of dissemination activities. The above discussed impacts have centralized the initial project efforts in the territory of Campania and Basilicata. Besides this the positive response of communication events in Campania may have further taken advantage also from the actual attention and high concern devoted to the environmental problems by the public opinion. Conversely in Piemonte the presence of a unique beneficiary has slackened the initial organization of communication events outsides the university sphere

5.4 Analysis of long-term benefits 1. Environmental benefits

a. Direct / quantitative environmental benefits: The soil addition of stabilized humified composts result in a long term steady increase of SOC level, with the positive effects on the overalls physical and chemical soil fertility (aggregate stability, porosity, nutrient retention and availability) and on the biological activities of cultivated soils, associated with either the suppressive features towards soil pathogens and the bioactive stimulation of plant physiology exerted by the hormone-like humic molecular components. Decrease on energetic inputs related to mineral fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation. Evaluation of GHG emission from agricultural soils

b. Relevance for environmentally significant issues or policy areas (e.g. industries/sectors with significant environmental impact, consistency with 6th or 7th (as applicable) EU Environment Action Programme and/or important environmental principles, relevance to the EU legislative framework (directives, policy development, etc.)

The project approaches of implementation actions (on farm composting, SOM managements) and the output indicators from monitoring actions (e.g. soil GHG emission, SOC sequestration, compost quality, compost suppressivity) may contribute to match the policy issues outlined in the LIFE guidelines for the thematic Soil: “developing and implementing land use practices and techniques, particularly in farming and forestry production processes, which protect and improve the status of soil in terms of structure, organic matter, biodiversity, etc. This might include supporting farmers and foresters through pilot agro-environmental schemes, different types of environmental friendly agricultural management and technologies, reduction of residues coming from agriculture” as well as to strengthen the indications already issued in the LIFE and Soil protection document: (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/soil_protection.pdf - see chapters Helping agriculture improve carbon storage, Supporting soil monitoring techniques, Reducing degradation of agricultural soils). The LIFE CarbOnFarm activities are in line with the strategic requirements and provisions stated in the documents issued from the directive on Soil Thematic Strategy, which outline the importance of SOM as key driving element in the preservation and restoration of soil functionalities (Reports of the Technical Working Groups Established Under the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection Volume – III Organic Matter 2004 EUR 21319 EN/3; Technical report 049 2010- Soil biodiversity: functions, threats and tools for policy makers European

49

Commission DG ENV; Technical report 051-2011 Soil organic matter management across the EU best practices, constraints and trade-offs, European Commission DG ENV).

In our opinion the results and indications of all LIFE project focused on SOM managements, may be also helpful to further improve the focus on the key-role of soil for agro-ecosystems in other EU programme such as H2020, (see e.g. the lacking of specific planned activities on soil eco-systems and on SOC sequestration in the Work Programme 2016-2017- 9. Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy)

2. Long-term benefits and sustainability

a. Long-term / qualitative environmental benefits i. LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance: e.g. long term sustainable

technology, from product to functional focus, from end-of-pipe to prevention; high visibility for environmental problems and/or solutions; spin-off effect in other environmental areas etc.

A sustainable environmental benefit is associated to the support and improvement of the valorization of organic biomasses from local agricultural activities, as effective alternative to the disposal of such materials otherwise classified from the National and Regional legislations as “special waste”. Additional direct benefits are related to the conversion into stable composts and the use for SOM managements; in fact the application of fresh biomasses, already foreseen as possible alternative in the national provisions, besides being subjected to specific restriction, may have negative impact for either the pathogenic aspects and for the rapid mineralization of organic materials with the risks of “priming effect” and increase of GHG emission. Moreover an additional benefit for the local territories may be conceived, and is currently programmed as possible development in the activities of ALSIA beneficiary, with an extension outside the agricultural sphere; this option in based on the possible inclusion in the circuit of biomasses collection from the local territory for on farm composting, of the organic fraction of urban waste of villages and country towns, which have not a reliable possibility to confer the biomasses to the large industrial composting plant. A further extension to other environmental areas is related to the use of organic extractable fraction of compost materials (humic substances) as natural bio-surfactants for soil remediation. The production of high quality stable compost from agricultural biomasses and urban organic residues represent also an important and effective source of humified materials that may be effectively used for the remediation of contaminated sites. The on farm compost from manure and recycled crops residues have been proved to be enriched with humified components which act as natural surfactants versus either inorganic and organic pollutants. This opportunity is currently adopted by the CERMANU and have been integrated in the development of a Spin-off project of University of Napoli (GreenAmBioTech project) and have been included in the submission of a new LIFE proposal (LIFE GreenSoilClean LIFE15 ENV/IT/000600 (LIFE call 2015 Environment and Resource Efficiency: Demonstration and pilot projects)

b. Long-term / qualitative economic benefits (e.g. long-term cost savings and/or business opportunities with new technology etc., regional development, cost reductions or revenues in other sectors)

The overall local valorisation of organic biomasses may represent and economic advantage for cost-saving expenses related to the disposal of organic waste classified as “special waste”, which

50

are often associated in Campania with the need to transport and allocate the organic residues in other Regions, while the local recycling may provide a regional virtuous circuit. An additional composting plant is being already by a cooperative farm association for a total surface of about 2000 m2 and an estimated investments of € 160,000 (Azienda Agricola Cerro). Other four farm associations are currently planning the realization of on farm composting facility (La Colombaia, Ortomad, Punzi, RomanFruit,)

c. Long-term / qualitative social benefits (e.g. positive effects on employment, health,

ethnic integration, equality and other socio-economic impact etc.) The activation of the LIFE on farm composting prototype has already produced a positive effects on the personnel of associated beneficiary Prima Luce with the inclusion of two FTE persons dedicated to the activities of the composting process (compost production and distribution). Moreover the realization of on farm composting facility has promoted economic investments of local farms for the replication of project strategies based on the recycling of agricultural biomasses and soil addition with stable compost; one additional composting plant has been completed and two additional farm association are planning the realization of on farm composting facilities. Currently it is possible two conceive that the attainment of the on farm facility is estimated to produce additional employment equivalent to about one FTE units for each composting plant. The expertise created in the LIFE CarbOnFarm project for the realization and management of on farm composting facility, have been conveyed to a planned development of Spin-off consortium of the University of Basilicata whit an estimated future employment of three working FTE units.

d. Continuation of the project actions by the beneficiary or by other stakeholders. The production of on farm compost will be continued by the Beneficiary Prima Luce.

The field activities related to the demonstrative and innovative practices included in Action B.3 which involve the soil addition with compost and biomimetic catalyst will be continued after the end of the project in the public farms pertaining to the University of Napoli and University of Torino. On these project sites also the monitoring activities related with Action C.2 (Monitoring of Soil organic carbon stabilization) Action C3 (Monitoring the agronomical, phytopathological and practical sustainability of proposed strategies) and C.4 (Monitoring greenhouse gases emissions in field) will be continued. ALSIA will continue the dissemination activities related with the agricultural biomasses recycling and soil compost addition, which will be included in the working programme with the realization of regional small demonstrative composting circuit in the Regional Farms Managed by the Regional company

. 3. Replicability, demonstration, transferability, cooperation: Potential for technical and commercial application The integration of a sustainable productive cycle based on local resources is expected to be easily transferred and adapted to the need and requirements of different agro-ecosystems characterized by the local availability of organic biomasses and with a decline of soil quality. In particular the feasibility of on farm compost facility strongly benefit from the possibility to be placed in a farm association exploiting the economical and processing advantages to use large amounts of different

51

agricultural residues and to produce a large amount of composts easily conveyable to associated farms, thereby reducing the economic and environmental limiting factors related to the long range transport of organic materials In this respect different collaboration have been already activated by the Beneficiary UNIBAS with various local farms for the activation of other composting facilities implying private economic investments. Four additional farm and farm association have planned local interventions for the transferability of the project activities related to on-farm composting facility and SOM management with compost addition (Ortomad, Cerro, La Colombaia, RomanFruit) The potential for the technical application of project strategies was already envisaged in possible networking collaboration with a new LIFE proposal (LIFE SaveSoil) for the extension of the LIFE CarbOnFarm approaches in other European countries

4. Best Practice lessons: briefly describe the best practice measures used and if any changes

in the followed strategy could lead to possible adjustment of the best practices

The indications obtained at the intermediate stage of project activities, outline the needs to refine the on farm composting processes by precisely planning the sources of organic biomasses with a steady supplying of ligneous/woody fractions in order to increase the yield of final compost thereby improving the cost efficiency of the process. Moreover for a composting plant based on farm association, it has been calculated in 10 km the extension for the transport of either fresh biomasses and final compost, for the environmental and economical sustainability The first agronomic results indicate a contrasting response of the various cropping systems to applied SOM managements (e.g. maintenance of overall productivity on horticultural crops, increase productivity on peach and kiwi orchard, decrease in maize yields) thereby confirming the necessity to conceive the modification of soil management in agro-ecosystem with a transition-state approach. Although the positive effect on SOM content may have a quick response, the conversion of conventional systems based on intensive inputs (e.g. chemical fertilizer) to organic farming result in a unavoidable time-lag response of the overall soil fertility and of cropping systems for the adaptation to the new soil management, before to reach the new steady state. This means to carefully plan the intervention (e.g. with an initial possible mixing of conventional and innovative practices) and to strongly support the public awareness of involved stakeholders (farmers, farmer associations, technician) by combining and actualize the possible short term effect on crop productivity with the long term beneficial effect of agronomical and environmental benefit (decreasing fertilizers, irrigation requirement, pesticides). In this respect the direct involvement of commercial farms has greatly supported the reliability and the effectiveness of the proposed project strategies and the consequent demonstrative characteristic and make the possible local replication and transfer as real options

5. Innovation and demonstration value: Describe the level of innovation, demonstration

value added by EU funding at national and international level (including technology, processes, methods & tools, organisational & co-operational aspects);

The basic demonstration value is represented by the application of feasible and reliable SOM managements based on the valorisation of local resources.

52

In this respect a significant goal is represented by the large LIFE on-farm composting facility attained with the economic support of EU contribution. This objective face at the same time innovative aspects, for the large scale of on-farm composting process, and the demonstration value for the attainment of large amounts of high quality compost for SOM managements. The EU economic support allow to displays a large range of monitoring activities that produce a significant arrays of data that will aloe a useful evaluation of the effects of SOM managements practices, with a particular innovation represented by the evaluation of compost and SOM quality and on the analyses of GHG emissions from agricultural soils. Finally, although the technological innovative activity based on the soil application of biomimetic catalyst underwent to an operative reorganization in respect to the objective of an in-house synthesis, thus still maintaining an economical limiting factor, the possibility to upscale such highly technological practices from the level of scientific research to a real field application represents an evident and important support of public sector to the introduction of innovative scientific approaches in to agro-ecosystems.

6. Long term indicators of the project success: describe the quantifiable indicators to be used in future assessments of the project success, e.g. the conservation status of the habitats / species. � Amount of recycled organic biomasses and on farm composts produced � Effective and stable improvement of SOM quantity (SOC sequestration) and quality � Maintenance of crop productivity: stable yields with reducing traditional inputs (fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation) and/or increasing yields and quality of selected crops � Diffusion of compost application as current SOM management practices � Refining and updating of regional rules and administrative obligation to speed the

realization of medium-large scale on-farm composting process � Amount of new on farm composting process activated in local territories

6. Comments on the financial report In respect to the Financial reports please be aware that, following the modification required for the compilation of the F1 forms (Personnel) in respect to the initial forms requested in the Grant Agreement, not all the Beneficiaries are currently able to supply all the information related to the Personnel costs (Column E1, E2, E3). All the Beneficiaries are aware of the provisions included in the art 30 of the LIFE Guidance for Financial Management and Reporting and are therefore up dating and keeping the information in a separate documents, in order to get ready to provide all the requested details for the next report

6.1. Summary of Costs Incurred −Complete the following table concerning the incurred project costs and comment on each of

the cost categories focussing particularly on discrepancies compared to the allowed flexibility of 30,000€ and 10% (cf. Article 15.2 of the Common Provisions)

53

PROJECT COSTS INCURRED

Cost category Budget according to the grant agreement*

Costs incurred within the project duration

%**

1. Personnel 755,857 1,513,725 49.9 2. Travel 7,601 43,040 17.7 3. External assistance 222,709 643,110 34.6 4. Durables: total non-

depreciated cost 18,705 30,000 62.4

- Infrastructure sub-tot.

- Equipment sub-tot. - Prototypes sub-tot. 296,126 266,200 111.2

5. Consumables 46,896 349,540 13.4 6. Other costs 5,334 26,700 20.0 7. Overheads 3,360 178,950 1.9

TOTAL 1,356,588 3,051,265 44.4 *) If the Commission has officially approved a budget modification indicate the breakdown of the revised budget Otherwise this should be the budget in the original grant agreement. **) Calculate the percentages by budget lines: e.g. the % of the budgeted personnel costs that were actually incurred

Personnel: 1) in respect with this category some discrepancies are emerged in the Financial statements for the actual daily rates of permanent staff in respect with the indications included in the proposal. In particular for the Beneficiaries ALSIA and PRIMA LUCE, the main reason for these discrepancies has to be related with the replacement of the original Beneficiaries occurred with the Amendment to Grant Agreement For the private Beneficiary the original daily rate were based on the general basic salary (union scale averaged salary) of not specialized farm worker; the current daily rates refer to the actual salary of qualified operators for specific farm activity (e.g. tractor driver) which may differ from the basic rate. For ALSIA an average daily rate was included in the proposal related to the salary of Regional functionary; the actual larger rate associated to the Technical manager (Mr. R. Sileo) is related to the role of Regional Executive Manager For UNIBAS an average flat rate was included in the Grant Agreement for both Full and Associate professor (€ 410), in order to take in account the threshold indicated in the Guidelines. The actual daily rate of both status are respectively larger and lower in respect to this averaged values. The technical manager of UNIBAS (Mr Giuseppe Celano) modified his status from Researcher to Associate Professor from 2015; the corresponding actual rate is changed accordingly.

For the Coordinating beneficiary CERMANU, a positive difference is emerged for the daily rate of Technician responsible for Action B.3 (Mr. Enzo Di Meo) for the changes in qualification level of the actual permanent staff in respect to the ones initially foreseen in the Grant Agreement.

2) in order to comply with the improvement of dissemination activities related with the interest risen by the attainment of LIFE composting plant and the beneficial use of recycled biomasses,

54

and the consequent large involvement of farmers association, technician and local institutions, the following modification has been introduced: . - the Beneficiary REGCAMP requests the possibility to include an additional staff unit dedicated to the local organization of dissemination activities (workshop/demonstration days) in the District of Salerno, close to the location of composting plant of Prima Luce. The following variation will be operative from the 1st January 2016 and will not produce any budget modification Additional permanent staff for beneficiary REGCAMP

Beneficiary Action Additional Personnel/

Category Role in the project Daily rate

REGCAMP D.3 Dr. Paolo D’Agostino

Permanent staff Level D6

Support and improvement of

local dissemination activities

274

Travel Following the request sent by the commission with the Communication on 3rd Monitoring visit on 10/12/2015 (Ares 2015 5733056) - please find in attached files Annex 7.1d Administrative annex – Rules for Travel and Subsistence, the list of regulatory procedures followed by different beneficiaries for the reimbursement of travel costs. As general rule in compliance with the art. 24.3 of Common provisions and with the indications provided in the LIFE12 Nat/ENV Kick-off meeting by the representatives of EC on 8th November 2013, travel and subsistence costs are currently charged in accordance with the internal rules of the coordinating beneficiary or associated beneficiary � AGROSELVIT, ALSIA, CERMANU, CREA-ORT, REGCAMP, UNIBAS: for all public beneficiaries a request for mission or travel have to be submitted in advance, for either permanent or temporary staff, with specific indication of the project activity to which the trip is associated. The application must be approved by the main responsible (e.g. Director). The reimbursement for travel and subsistence expenses depends on the approval of related payment documents or receipts for fuel, highway etc. For the permanent staff of CERMANU, a flat-rate amount is allowed for a maximum of 37 Euro inclusive of travel and subsistence. External assistance/F3 1) in respect to the original budget for the attainment of biomimetic catalyst (Action B.2), a fraction of the costs initially included in Consumables, have been allocated in F3, for a global amount of € 28932 (+4.5% of F3 and -8.5% for F6). These contingencies were already envisaged among the possible constrains in the original proposal and the technical modifications have been already submitted in the previous reports (Inception and Progress report). The changes correspond to the following points: - agreement with Siena Biotech company for the initial attempt to maintain the total in-house synthesis of the biomimetic catalyst - agreement with Dept. di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche Università di Roma Tor Vergata, for the partial in-house modification (catalytic activation) of basic porphyrin molecule (sulfonation and metal group-insertion)

55

2) As already indicated in the Progress report, the public beneficiaries CERMANU, AGROSELVIT and CRAORT have allocated in this category, the budget for the high qualified personnel specifically hired for the required expertise in the monitoring activities. In compliance with the reporting rules, the corresponding paid amounts are currently monthly recorded in the financial statement. However, for the internal rules of these public beneficiaries, the related global amounts, have been already allocated for the project activities and transferred to the central administrations. This imbalance between the assigned resources for project activities and the recorded amounts in the Financial statements clearly affect the threshold of total costs incurred for the mid-term report. 3) additional costs not foreseen in the Grant Agreement, were sustained by Prima Luce for the external services related to the collection, transport and distribution of organic residues (woody residues and horchard trimming) from other farms, to supply the requirements of ligneous fraction for on farm composting process (€ 20000; + 3.1 % Budget Category). A compensation has been envisaged, always as beneficiary contribution, with the removal of corresponding amounts associated with these activities in Category F1 (Personnel) for Action B1 and B3 The amounts Prototype/F4c The actual total costs for the attainment of the prototype have exceeded the provisional budget allocated in the Grant Agreement. The discrepancy is € 29926 (10.9 % of original budget). The difference is mainly related with the attainment of the carrying facility structure and with the acquisition of monitoring systems for temperature, oxygen, moisture (probes, connection, electric panel). In order to not modify the planned overall project budget a reduction has been envisaged in the expenses charged on Consumables which were already included as Beneficiary own contribution without change in the technical commitments The following Table reports a synthetic resume of all activated/proposed budget modifications involving shifts between budget categories: - Budget modifications involving category changes

Increased Category

Amount DESCRIPTION Lowered Category

Difference

Travel and subsistence

€ 5000

The expenses for the organization of Mid-term conference (Action D5) may be reduced without any prejudice for the event; these financial resources will be moved in Travel for Action E1 (Project

Meetings, Monitoring visit ) and Actions D3, D5( workshops and

demonstrative events and to Mid Term and Final Conference)

beneficiary ALSIA

External assistance

0

External assistance

€ 28932

Outsourcing for Synthesis of biomimetic catalyst (Action B.2) 1.

Contract with Siena Biotech company 2. Contract with II University of Rome Tor Vergata (beneficiary CERMANU)

Consumables 0

56

External assistance

€ 20000

External services related to the collection, transport and distribution of organic residues (woody residues and horchard trimming) from other Farms, to supply the requirements of ligneous

fraction for on farm composting process (beneficiary PRIMA LUCE)

Personnel 0

Prototype € 29926

Exciding costs for the attainment of the carrying facility structure and with the acquisition of monitoring systems for

temperature, oxygen, moisture (probes, connection, electric panel). (beneficiary

PRIMA LUCE)

Consumables 0

Consumables € 2600

Economies produced will be used to improve the intermediate informative

Technical reports and the final Layman’s report (beneficiary

REGCAMP)

Travel and subsistence/ Overheads

0

6.2. Accounting system This should include among other aspects, − Brief presentation of the accounting system(s) employed and the code(s) identifying the

project costs in the analytical accounting system

Following the indications included in the Communication on 3rd Monitoring visit on 10/12/2015 (Ares 2015 5733056), please find in Annex 7.1e Administrative annex – Printout of Cost accounts (the printouts of the cost accounts used for the management of costs of project beneficiaries). The accounting systems of different beneficiaries are organised in accordance with the respective obligations included in National legislation. The involved University departments (CERMANU, AGROSELVIT, UNIBAS) have an electronic accounting system that comply with the rules issued by the corresponding Minister (MIUR) and by the respective University administration. In particular the accounting system of University departments is currently based on the so-called Unique University Balance systems, (Bilancio Unico di Ateneo - Decreto Legislativo 27/01/2012 n° 18). The REGCAMP use the accounting system established with the Decreto Legislativo (Regional Legislative Decree) n. 118 del 23/06/2011. The CREA-ORT is a component of Minister of Agriculture and must comply with the rules of national legislation for the public sector (D.L. 14 marzo 2013, n. 33). The ALSIA follow the Regional provisions which regulate the accounting systems in compliance with D.L. 14 marzo 2013, n. 33. The accounting system of private beneficiary PRIMA LUCE s.a.s. are related to the Articles of National Civil Code artt. 2251-2290, which regulate the legislative obligations for the “Società Semplice” organization. For Prima Luce two different bank accounts are used for the project, referred to Banco di Napoli (BDN) and Banca di Credito Cooperativo (BCC); the statements of accounts of both bank accounts are provided in Annex 7.1e The project costs in each accounting systems are identified by the following codes: � Project code (LIFE12 ENV/IT 000719); for the accounting systems of University

departments the project code is automatically associated with the full project title.

57

� Codice Unico di Progetto (CUP) E78C12000150006 assigned by the National Authority from the start of project activity (08/07/2013).

� For the Public beneficiaries all the costs and transactions related with acquisition of external goods and services are further associated with the CIG code Codice Unico di Gara (Tender Unique Code), unique for each specific tender procedure. (Legge n. 136/2010 for the traceability of financial fluxes)

− Brief presentation of the procedure of approving costs

For the acquisition of goods and services the National and Regional legislation oblige all public beneficiaries to fulfil the compliance with the rule of the best value for money. In this respect the Public beneficiaries have to refer to the Consip spa (MEPA system Electronic Market for Public Administration) as first option. When the MEPA may not fulfil the requirements (e.g. lack of products or not correspondence with the required characteristics), the administration may implement the procedure related with the acquisition of different offers, depending on the own rules of respective central administration CERMANU, CREA-ORT, REGCAMP and UNIBAS has to comply with a minimum of three and five requested offers with no threshold; AGROSELVIT must present three requested offers with a threshold of € 40000; ALSIA may proceed with the acquisition of three offers for a threshold of € 20.000 and with a minimum of 5 offers for an amount ranging from € 20.000 to € 80.000. For the last two Beneficiary which use specific threshold please refer to the Administrative annex 7.1f –Rules for acquisition of goods and services In case of unique supplier for the specific good or service a declaration of uniqueness is provided. The hiring of temporary personnel for the project activities for public beneficiaries, is made with public tenders (approved by the National financial authority Corte dei Conti) in compliance with both the National rules and the specific indications of each central administration. The Financial reports of each beneficiary, are included in Annex 7.1g Administrative annex- Financial reports. The consolidate costs statement and payment request are included in the Financial report of Coordinating Beneficiary Cermanu

For all Public Beneficiaries (AGROSELVIT, ALSIA, CERMANU, CREA-ORT, REGCAMP, UNIBAS) the VAT are non-recoverable expenses and are included as eligible costs. In this respect please find enclosed the respective declarations in a subfolder included in Annex 7.1g Financial reports: VAT Declarations)

The time recording system of all Beneficiaries is based on manual completed timesheets, filled on daily/weekly bases, organized in agreement with the format acknowledged by the LIFE toolkit system. The following beneficiaries, ALSIA, CREA-ORT and REGCAMP, produce an internal daily independent electronic registration system. For the University departments (AGROSELVIT, CERMANU, UNIBAS) the Technical permanent staff (Technicians) involved in project activities, in addition to the project time sheets, have also a daily electronic registration system − Brief presentation of the registration, submission and approval procedure/routines of the time

registration system

58

Each project beneficiary has an appointed administrative responsible (see point 4.1

“Management scheme” in the present report) which, in combination with the technical manager, is entrusted to verify the timing and correctness of periodic registration of the own personnel involved in project activities. In order to avoid, as much as possible, mistakes and time consuming remaking of inappropriate documents, the timesheets are recorded in electronic version; the copy is hence initially checked by the Beneficiary management and subsequently, at monthly interval, submitted to the Coordinating management (Administrative responsible and Coordinator) for the final approval after the evaluation of the technical compliance with requested mandatory information and with scheduled activities. The approved timesheet is finally signed by the Beneficiary responsible. The hard original copies are kept by the administration of each corresponding Beneficiary, while the electronic true consistent copies, are stored in the recording system of Coordinating beneficiary

− Brief explanation how it is ensured that invoices contain a clear reference to the LIFE+ project showing how invoices are marked in order to show the link to the LIFE+ project

For all the documents related to project costs and expenses (i.e. offers, invoices, contracts etc) is mandatory for all beneficiaries to either require or include a clear reference to the project based on both identification code and acronym (LIFE12 ENV/IT000719 – LIFE CarbOnFarm) and on the additional identification code (specific National Project unique code CUP E78C12000150006 for the financial traceability), assigned by the National Authority. In case when these rules may not be fulfilled, a project stamp have been conceived (as indicated in the Inception report) which include the logo of the project combined with all the above cited reference codes

6.3. Partnership arrangements (if relevant) The transfer of first amount of EC contribution to each Associated beneficiary was performed accordingly with the indications provided in the Partnership agreements as already indicated in the Inception report and in Progress Report; an equal percentage quote, corresponding to the 40% of specific requested EC contributions, have been assigned to each Beneficiary. Each Beneficiary has a proper financial reporting scheme currently updated following the specific project activities. A periodic check is performed on the electronic versions of individual financial reporting systems by the Administration of Coordinating Beneficiary. Each beneficiary hold the hard copies of administrative documents, while the corresponding certified electronic copies are periodically delivered to the Coordinating beneficiary on quarterly periodicity with the contemporary updating of Project’s financial reporting system.

6.4. Auditor's declaration The following company have been selected for the External Auditing CROSS HUB srl Legal representative Dott. Marco Mensitieri Via dei Mille 47 80121 Napoli (IT); VAT 08060921213 Tel. +39 0817645754; e-mail [email protected] (http://www.crosshub.it/download/Presentazione_Cross_Hub.pdf)

59

6.5 Summary of costs per action This table should present an allocation of the costs incurred per action. It should be presented in both paper and Excel format.

Ac

t.

no

.

Short name

of action

1.Personnel 2. Travel

and

subsistenc

e

3. External

assistance

4.b Equipment 4.c Prototype 6.Consumables 7. Other

costs

TOTAL

A1

Teachn.

Plann. 41,805 0 0 0 0 2,087 0 43,892

B1 Set up of

comp plant 107,127 1,770 24,400 0 296,126 0 0 429,423

B2 Biom. Catal. 25,258 0 23,082 0 0 12,047 0 60,387

B3 Set up

project sites 133,583 851 25,357 0 0 589 0 160,379

C1

Mon

compost

quality

53,467 147 11,416 0 0 8,548 0 73,577

C2 Mon SOC

stabilizat. 13,662 39 36,694 0 0 6,163 0 56,558

C3

Mon.

Agron.

impact

61,789 0 23,456 8,382 0 3,121 0 96,748

C4 Mon. GHG 30,335 683 58,314 941 0 13,333 0 103,606

C5 Mon. Env,

econ,sust. 17,731 81 16,330 7,603 0 0 0 41,745

C6 Mon.

awareness . 11,186 0 0 0 0 0 0 11,186

D1 Website 14,162 0 3,660 1,779 0 0 0 19,601

D2 Notice

boards 2,873 0 0 0 0 1,010 0 3,883

D3 Workshops 67,540 141 0 0 0 0 4,423 72,104

D4 Info days 8213 0 0 0 0 0 495 8,708

D5 Coferences 16,830 204 0 0 0 0 0 17,034

D6 Layman’s 5,378 897 0 0 0 0 0 6,275

D8 Networking 5,700 0 0 0 0 0 415 6,115

E1 Manageme

nt

139,217 2,791 0 0 0 0 0 142,008

Over-heads 3360

TOTAL 755,857 7,602 222,709 18,705 296,126 46,896 5,334 1,356,589

Please comment on any major discrepancies between this table and the summary of costs per action set out in the grant agreement (form FB or R2).

60

The following table reports a synthetic scheme of budget variation between Actions without category changes: - Budget modifications involving transfer between Actions, without category changes

FROM TO DESCRIPTION AMOUNT Action A.1 External

assistance

Action C.4 External

assistance

Unforeseen delay in the development of collecting system for field GHG data acquisition (beneficiary UNIBAS)

€ 10000

Action A.1 External

assistance

Action C.5 External

assistance

The organization of LCA evaluation (Action C.5) is started with the set-up of project sites,

after the completion of the technical planning (A.1); this change has not produced neither any delay nor technical modification

in the project activities (beneficiary AGROSELVIT)

€ 8442

Action D.3 Other costs

Action D.5 Other costs

The expenses previously included as “Conference fees”, will be used for the

Organization of Final Conference (beneficiary REGCAMP)

€ 2500

Action. D.5 External

assistance

Action. D.3 External

Assistance

The expenses for the Mid-term conference organization may be reduced without any

prejudice for the event; these financial resources will be used to improve other

dissemination events (Action D.3) (beneficiary ALSIA)

€ 5000



Economies produced by the Beneficiary REGCAMP would be transferred to other

Beneficiaries to improve the activities included in actions D.3, D.4, D.5, E.1

(ALSIA, CRA-ORT, UNIBAS)

€ 6140

Action C.4 Travel and subsistence

Action E1/D5


Part of the travel costs included in the Action C.2 and C.4 for sample and data collection would be transferred to Actions D5/ E1 for the travel costs related to the Mid tem and

final conference, Project meetings and Monitoring visits (CERMNAU)

€ 2000

• in respect to the costs allocated in the original proposal, for Action A.1 (technical planning) please consider the following questions: - in order to solve the initial administrative problems related to the modification of Grant Agreement, a slight larger resources of F.1 (personnel) originally allocated in Action E.1, have been anticipated in Action A.1 -some resources originally allocated in Action A.1 by the beneficiaries AGROSELVIT and UNIBAS, were not exploited within the original deadline of action A.1. These costs, included in the financial forms F3 (External assistance) and F6 (Consumables), were associated with the technical organization of Actions C.4 and C.5 and with compost acquisition for the project sites of Piemonte (Action B.3). The actions C4 and C5 have been organized, and the costs, originally included in technical planning, should have to be re-allocated to the respective posts for Action C.4 (Euro 10000 UNIBAS) -Consultancy for Wifi network of the automatized soil respiration

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systems and C.5 (Euro 8442 AGROSELVIT) Consultancy for LCA analyses, and maintained in F.3 External assistance. These modifications will not imply any delay or technical modification for the project activities In respect to the costs allocated for compost acquisition, since the compost material is furnished by Marco Polo company, the residual costs have been moved to Action B.3 (Euro 2702 AGROSELVIT) for the annual compost transportation to the project sites of Piemonte and maintained in the Form F6 consumables • a larger amount of Personnel resources from Beneficiaries Prima Luce and Unibas has been employed for the activities related to the set-up of on farm LIFE composting plant and for the activities concerning the planning, activation, organization, and daily working procedures of composting process • with respect of the variations in Action B.2 please refer to the comments in the previous section (6.1)

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7. Annexes

7.1 Administrative annexes 7.1a Administrative annex – Minutes of Committee project meetings 7.1b Administrative annex – Project mailing list 7.1c Administrative annex – Regional Disposition for ALSIA reorganization 7.1d Administrative annex – Rules for Travel and Subsistence 7.1e Administrative annex – Cost accounts ( printouts of the cost accounts used for the management

of costs of project beneficiaries). 7.1f Administrative annex –Rules for acquisition of goods and services 7.1g Administrative annex- Financial reports

7.2 Technical annexes Technical Annex 7.2a– Action B.2 Agreement with University of Tor Vergata Technical Annex 7.2b – scientific upgrade for Action B.2 Technical Annex 7.2c Agreements for commercial farms Grandi and Mellone Technical Annex 7.2d Report on B.3 Action Technical Annex 7.2e Report on C.1 Action Technical Annex 7.2f Deliverable Report on C.2 Action second year Technical Annex 7.2g -Internship activity for C2 Action Technical Annex 7.2h Deliverable Report on C.3 Action second year Technical Annex 7.2i Deliverable Report on C.4 Action second year Technical Annex 7.2l Deliverable Intermediate Report on C.5 Action Technical Annex 7.2m Gantt scheme

7.3 Dissemination annexes Dissemination Annex 7.3a Initial Notice Boards Dissemination Annex 7.3b Initial Project Leaflet Dissemination Annex 7.3c Application letters for Farm collaboration with LIFE CarbOnFarm Dissemination Annex 7.3d Deliverables Project brochure, Composting Manuals, 2nd Project Leaflet

Leaflet Dissemination Annex 7.3e Videos - on farm composting process Dissemination Annex 7.3f D3 events (Workshop and demonstration days) Dissemination Annex 7.3f D3 events (Attendance to Meetings) Dissemination Annex 7.3g D4 events (Info days for students) Dissemination Annex 7.3h D5 event (Mid term conference) Dissemination Annex 7.3i D.8 Demonstrative day Programm Dissemination Annex 7.3l D.8 Supporting Letter of LIFE CarbOnfarm for new LIFE SaveSoil

Proposal

Documents

MIDTERM Report Covering the project