A safflower project: On-farm introduction of safflower as an alternative oil crop in Southern Italy

A. Corleto

 Abstract

This work illustrates an experimental project involving the on-farm introduction of safflower in dry and irrigated agricultural areas in Southern Italy. The safflower project (PRO.CART.) is designed both to assess the crop yield potential in terms of grain and oil yield per hectare, and to study the whole process from the cold extraction of the oil (for dietetic and medicinal uses) to the bottling and marketing of the product. The project, which started in 1999 and will complete its first phase at the end of 2001, involves the growing of 2 safflower varieties (Montola 2000 and Centennial) and of 3 commercial hybrids (AGI123, AGI124, AGI126). It will extend over a total area of about 61 hectares, located in rain-fed areas (about 80% of safflower cropped areas) of 3 Southern Italy regions (Apulia, Basilicata, Campania) and in some irrigation schemes of Apulia and Basilicata. Some agriculture-related public bodies acting in the areas concerned with this experimentation are financially supporting the project. The results, if satisfactory, will be good grounds for requesting the E.U. (European Union) to subsidisze safflower, as it does for sunflower and rape.

Key words: Safflower, alternative crop, farm introduction, Southern Italy