Project Partners
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CONSORZIO DI RICERCA PER LO SVILUPPO DI SISTEMI INNOVATIVI AGROAMBIENTALI (http://www.corissia.it/) |
Representatives:
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The Research Council for the Development of Innovatory Agro-environmental Systems (CoRiSSIA) is a public research centre formed by the Sicilian Regional Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, the Department of Environmental and Territorial Agronomy, the Lima Mancuso Foundation, the University of Palermo, the Cooperative ARALIA, the San Remo Institute of Floriculture, and the Italian Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry. Work at the centre focuses on the development of agriculture on the island, in particular in the hinterland and disadvantaged coastal areas, the modernization of production systems in the agricultural sector, and improving the conservation and development of the island’s environment, its natural resources and biodiversity. The centre carries out applied research, teaching/training, demonstration and awareness-raising activities. The centre’s main area of interest is non-food systems connected to the production of energy- giving plants, biomass, environmental protection and the safeguard of biodiversity. Other areas of interest include marine and inland water systems and water culture systems, water resources, the sustainable use of wastewater and its re-utilization, the treatment of activated sludge, the quality of food produce, traceability and the monitoring of water, air and soil quality. The centre is also active in research on parks and gardens, and turf grass.
CoRiSSIA is currently working on several projects in the agro-energy field, including “Agro- energy - an alternative for the development of the Valle del Belice area”, “A study of varieties of Carthamus tinctorius”, “A Study of varieties of Brassica napus, Brassica carinata, Crambe abyssinica and Helianthus annuus” and “A selection of naturalized, Mediterranean species for the optimization of the production of hydrogen from biomass, with a view to economic and environmental sustainability”. The centre has also recently started work on a project called “Innovative technology for the use of non-standard water and protection against desertification in Sicily”. The project included the construction of a large new laboratory for CoRiSSIA with equipment for the testing of water, soil and plant life (including biomass/oil analysis and energy characterization).
The research centre carries out applied research to promote agricultural and sustainable rural development and to utilize disadvantaged and marginal areas for production and environmental protection; consultancies for the Regional Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and other regional bodies; the transfer of research results to businesses and collaboration with development services; programme coordination and implementation on behalf of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and collaboration with the Technical Assistance operational Units; industry-oriented research for companies in agriculture and the agro-industry; collaborations with national and international research institutions; internationalization of research and technology; and training of researchers and technical staff.