The Tuscan Living Lab operates in the metropolitan area of Florence, covering the municipalities of Montespertoli, Chianti and Mugello. Its main objective is to revitalise traditional agroforestry systems based on olive groves while addressing critical issues such as low levels of soil organic matter and the need to adapt crops to increasingly frequent droughts.
The farmers’ network will be coordinated by the Comunità del Cibo e dei Grani Antichi di Montespertoli e delle Colline del Chianti (the Montespertoli and Chianti Hills Community of Food and Ancient Grains), an association established to create a sustainable local supply chain that connects farmers, processors and consumers.
The ‘lighthouse’ farms include an olive farm experienced in precision farming techniques and an agroforestry farm integrating forest trees, livestock and horticultural crops. Additionally, the Montespertoli Long-Term Experiment (https://www.molte.unifi.it/#) represents a multifunctional model for innovation and sustainability.