A rice farm gives back a third of its land to nature
biodiversity
The variety of living things in one place.
green manure
Plants grown and returned to soil to add nutrients.
aquifer
Underground rock or soil that stores water.
What happened
In northwestern Italy, rice farmer Alice Cerutti is changing her family farm. The farm is called Cascina Oschiena. About 400 years ago, monks turned marshland there into rice fields, according to the report. Cerutti took over the farm in 2012. She has now restored about one-third of its 110 hectares to a more natural state. Twenty-five hectares became wetlands.
Why the change is happening
Italy is Europe's largest rice producer. Its rice sector faces several pressures. Asian imports have increased competition. Production costs have risen. Droughts are becoming more frequent and intense. The agricultural group Coldiretti estimated that heat could cut Italy's rice production by about 25 percent this year.
Water is another part of the debate. Traditional flooded paddies can help recharge an aquifer, which stores water underground. Dry seeding avoids continuous flooding. It is spreading because farmers hope to save water. An agronomist interviewed in the report warned that removing too much water from the rice landscape could damage the wider water system. That claim needs to be tested across the region.
How Cerutti changed the farm
Cerutti planted more than 10,000 native trees and other plants. The list includes oaks, alders, ash trees, and hornbeams. She also protects woods, field edges, springs, and wetlands. These spaces provide shelter and feeding areas for wildlife.
The farm still grows rice. Its crops include red and black rice. It also grows older varieties, including Carnaroli Classico and Arborio Classico. They produce smaller harvests than many modern varieties. Cerutti says they handle drought and extreme heat better. She says her Carnaroli Classico grows without chemical fertilizer.
Her soil plan uses green manure and legume crops. Green manure means growing plants and returning them to the soil. About 1,200 sheep graze between rice harvests. Their organic matter adds nutrients to the fields.
Why it matters
The project treats biodiversity as part of farming resilience. Cerutti reports a sharp rise in butterflies and dragonflies since planting began. She also says migrating birds have fallen by 80 percent across the rice belt over the past 15 years. Her wetlands have become the only recorded Italian nesting site for the black-tailed godwit. A rare Large Copper butterfly has also been found there.
The choice has a cost. Land used for wetlands cannot produce rice in the same way. Cerutti hopes to replace some lost farm income by hosting school groups, researchers, and guests. That makes the project a test of business as well as ecology.
What is known, and what is not
The reported facts are clear about the land restored, the plants added, the farming methods used, and the species observed. The report also records Cerutti's own observations about biodiversity. It does not prove that one practice caused every change. It does not show how the farm's yields compare over many years. It also cannot tell us whether every rice farm could copy the model.
What to watch next
Future evidence should track species, water levels, rice yields, costs, and income together. That would show whether biodiversity protection helps farms survive hotter and drier years. The farm's experience arrives as countries discuss the 30x30 goal, which seeks to protect 30 percent of the world's land and oceans by 2030. The larger question is simple: can rice landscapes produce food while also leaving room for wildlife?
AFP report carried by The Japan Times and Cascina Oschiena's archive were used for this summary.
Why an Italian rice farmer made room for nature
📰 Full story: A rice farm gives back a third of its land to nature
Alice Cerutti is growing rice while restoring homes for wildlife.
biodiversity
The many different kinds of living things in one place.
wetland
Land that stays wet and supports plants and animals.
aquifer
Underground ground or rock that stores water.
💡 The gist
- Alice Cerutti restored about one-third of her farm.
- Wetlands and native plants now support more wildlife.
- Older rice varieties may handle heat and drought better.
What did she change?
Alice Cerutti is an Italian rice farmer. Her family farm is called Cascina Oschiena. She restored about one-third of its 110 hectares. She changed 25 hectares into wetlands.
A wetland is land that stays very wet. It gives plants, insects, and birds places to live. Cerutti also planted more than 10,000 native plants. Native plants already belong in that area. They can support local wildlife better than plants from far away.
Why does this help?
Rice farming needs water. Flooded fields can help refill an aquifer. An aquifer is underground rock or soil that stores water. Some farmers now use dry seeding. This method uses less standing water. The report says experts are debating whether it saves water overall.
Cerutti grows red and black rice. She also grows older varieties. These varieties often produce smaller harvests. However, Cerutti says they handle hot and dry weather better. That could help as heat becomes a bigger farming problem.
She uses green manure and legume crops. Green manure means growing plants and returning them to the soil. She also lets about 1,200 sheep graze after harvest. Their waste adds organic matter to the soil.
What has changed?
Cerutti reports more butterflies and dragonflies near the new trees. Her wetlands also provide nesting space for a rare migrating bird. This matters because migrating birds have declined across the rice-growing area.
The farm gives up some rice-growing land. That can reduce income. Cerutti is trying other activities instead. She welcomes school groups and researchers. She also offers guest stays.
What remains uncertain?
This farm shows one promising example. It does not prove every farm will get the same results. Researchers still need long-term measurements. They should compare wildlife, water, harvests, and farm income. Those numbers can show which practices help most.
AFP report carried by The Japan Times was used for this summary.
A rice field becomes a home for birds and bugs
📰 Full story: A rice farm gives back a third of its land to nature
An Italian farmer is growing rice and helping nature together.
wetland
A wet place where plants and animals can live.
native trees
Trees that naturally belong in that place.
What happened?
Rice grows in fields called paddies.
Alice Cerutti is an Italian rice farmer.
Her farm is called Cascina Oschiena.
She gave some fields back to nature.
Those fields became wetlands.
A wetland is a wet home for plants and animals.
Birds and insects can live there.
Cerutti also planted native trees.
Native trees already belong in that place.
She still grows rice.
She grows red, black, and older rice kinds.
Older kinds can handle heat and dry weather better, she says.
Her farm uses plants to feed the soil.
She brings sheep after the rice harvest.
Sheep leave manure behind.
Manure can feed the soil.
Flooded rice fields can help store water underground.
That water may help during dry times.
Her work may help nature and farming together.
Scientists still need long studies to test the full effects.
Report by AFP, carried by The Japan Times was used for this story.