The final conference of the Caterpillar project, moderated by Prof. Gianni Galaverna, deputy director of SITEIA-UNIPR, was held on Friday, May 5, at the Congress Center of the Parco Area Delle Scienze of the University of Parma (UNIPR).
Dr. Vita Maria Cristiana Moliterni (CREA- Genomics and Bioinformatics) explained the innovations funded by the 2014-2020 Regional Rural Development Program on hemp, developed in the Caterpillar, Scarabeo (finished) and Ovherseeds (ongoing) projects. Next, once again Dr. Moliterni presented an interesting work on the characterization of macerating microbial flora in the bioreactor used in the project and protected by patent.
Then Dr. Roberto Reggiani (“Azienda Agraria Sperimentale Stuard”) presented agronomic trials carried out at the farms Ca’ D’Alfieri (Bardi), Pedrazzi (Pellegrino P.se) and at Stuard.
Professors Martina Cirlini and Eleonora Carini (UNIPR) then respectively illustrated the chemical-physical and nutritional properties of hemp oil and hemp flour and the results obtained from experiments in the production of bread with varying percentages of hemp flour (10 – 25%).
Dr. Claudia Dellapina (UNIPR) showed the results obtained from the experimentation conducted in collaboration with Dr. Marco Errani and Prof. Martina Cirlini (UNIPR), of an environmentally friendly system for cleaning retted fiber based on the use of larvae of the dipteran Hermetia Illucens.
Finally, Dr. Silvia Folloni of Open Fields interviewed the president of Federcanapa, Beppe Croce, about future prospects for the cultivation, processing and use of hemp by the food industry.
Dr. Patrizia Alberti, Head of the Innovation, Training and Consulting Area, Directorate General for Agriculture, Hunting and Fisheries of the Emilia-Romagna Region, spoke at the conference, illustrating the opportunities for the regional agricultural sector in the new programming.
The conference featured a demonstration of prototypes made by Lampoon (https://www.lampoon.it/sostenibilita/canapa/ ; https://www.prototipo.store/): yarns and a 100 % hemp sweater made from the fiber processed in Caterpillar.
Throughout the afternoon it was possible to taste bread and cakes made from hemp flour prepared by the Dolcesalato bakery in Parma.
