Kontext

The livestock sector in Piedmont is mainly oriented for the use of
imported common soy flour. With regarding to prevention and management
of the risks of feeding it would be helpful to close the feed production
within the farm cycle througt the use of protein crops (as the soybean)
cultivated directly on the agricultural holding. Unfortunately the small
holders farmers established in Piedmont which operating in organic or
low input, are struggling to achieve the feeding process directly
utilized for the animals needs (therefore characterized by low
anti-nutritional factor) and into the own farm. This results from the
lack of machinery, equipment and contracting machines devoted for small
size farms, the lack of an adequate technical skills for the cropping
and for the post harvest, finally the lack of soya varieties adapted for
the local condition. As well known the ongoing impact climate change is
having a direct and deep impact on the local agricultural systems, thus
leading to a continuous change of the farming conditions that it will
fluctuate radically over the years. In order to cope these relevant
issues it would be important to have in Piedmont some varieties able to
adapt them over time and to the different territory. The use of mixture
varietes and populations of soybean represent an helpful solution into
of an adaptive strategies facing the climate change .
Moreover, the lack of capacity for processing feed directly into the
farm, it forces the farmers to provide the soy for livestock in to the
common market, this significantly increase the costs of the final
production. For these smallholders farmer the level of expenditure
often unsustainable.