The cross-border journey of Re-Cereal
The Re-Cereal project, part of the Interreg V-A Italy-Austria programme, was launched in November 2016, with the Dr. Schär R&D Centre acting as coordinator for all partners involved. The goal was simple yet ambitious: to bring resilient and historically rich crops back to the heart of Alpine agricultural life. Oats, millet and buckwheat were also sourced from non-European countries and cultivated in experimental fields located in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, South Tyrol and Carinthia, to evaluate their quality, yield and potential for revival in the Alpine regions.
the nutritional richness of ancient grains
The milling and processing systems developed as part of the Re-Cereal project have made it possible to preserve the nutritional value of millet, buckwheat, and oats. By developing innovative analytical methods, we were also able to validate the nutritional content of the grains and flours. This work enabled researchers to identify millet as the most suitable crop for targeted crossbreeding and new selections, with optimal agronomic performance.
Resilient ecosystems
The reintroduction of these grains and pseudocereals into the alpine region not only creates new product opportunities but also supports crop rotation and soil health, often depleted by monocultures. Thanks to its hardiness and extensive root system, buckwheat helps to loosen and aerate the soil, enhancing fertility without the use of plant protection products.
