The Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis DC in the experience conducted by the GOCARD project in Tuscany in the years 2018-2021, corresponding to three agricultural vintages of cultivation, showed itself to be a not very productive crop and also susceptible to phenomena of extreme meteorological and phytosanitary variability that characterized the years of cultivation.

Although the bibliography reports numerous successful cases in the cultivation of thistle cultivated in Mediterranean environments, these experiences are almost exclusively concentrated in lowland areas and with moderate or good fertility.

Considering the years in which the companies supported the cultivation operations listed in the agronomic protocol which were not followed by the collection of a salable product, the overall economic sustainability of the cultivation system in the three years of cultivation is more than negative, with the cautious exception of Vicchio site.

The experience produced by the GOCARD experimentation leaves, however, some guidelines that can be followed from a perspective of implementing agronomic research on thistle. The negative experience of these years will be able to direct the development of a more performing technical cultivation itinerary, which must be linked inextricably to a rethinking of the vocation to the marginality of the cultivated thistle, entering into the merits of which conditions of pedo-climatic marginality favor production of crop biomass.

Between 2018 and 2019, about 15 hectares were planted in two areas of the Tuscany region and it was observed that the early sowing in spring is more suited than autumn for the establishment of the crop even in mountain areas. Indeed, during autumn the occurrence of suited condition for sowing is strongly reduced by a high frequency of rainfalls and by the competition for time with the sowing of winter cereals and winter meadows. Moreover, delaying the sowing in autumn exposes the young plants to the risk of irreversible damage caused by frosts. Thus, sowing in April can better fit with crop requirements and farmers schedule. At the same time, the project began testing feeding test of beef cattle with cardoon meal. Since June 2019, 16 animals have been fed an experimental diet based on the replacement of 50% of soybean meal with cardoon flour. Compared to the 16 heads of the control group, which continue to be fed in the traditional way with soybean meal, the cattle being tested grow regularly, appear healthy, and show that they appreciate thistle flour. On observation, there are no differences between the two groups in terms of production performances. Clinical analyses will be carried out shortly to evaluate differences in meat properties and quality. Further investigations will concern the nutraceutical effects on animals and the quality of derived products due to the presence of active substances in the cardoon flour.

In May 2019, a group of Tuscan farmers, in addition to the project partners, took part in a visit to Sardinia where the integrated agricultural-industrial supply chain based on the cardoon's production and transformation is already a solid reality.