Field activities are underway in RUNFASTER4EU, with partners in Italy and Serbia making important strides in the cultivation of sustainable oil crops on marginal land. These early trials contribute to the project’s mission to develop climate-resilient, low-input cropping systems that feed into high-value bio-based value chains.
Serbia: promising start for HEAR trials
In Serbia, the IFVCNS team has selected suitable sites for replication trials aiming to develop new genotypes of high-erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR). These non-food varieties are being adapted to marginal conditions and abiotic stresses, with a focus on maintaining high seed and oil yields.
Photos taken 15 days after sowing show encouraging signs, with visible plant emergence and early crop establishment.
A second sowing, this time of safflower, is planned for spring in another Serbian location.
Italy: monitoring crop performance in rotation trials
In September, the University of Bologna sowed high-erucic rapeseed as part of RUNFASTER4EU’s rotation trials. Since then, the crop has shown steady development.
To better understand how it performs under real-life conditions, the team installed soil moisture probes, enabling continuous monitoring of water availability throughout the growing cycle. Field trials like this are key to testing low-input practices and strengthening circular bio-based systems from the ground up.
More field updates will follow as RUNFASTER4EU progresses. Stay connected through our channels for the latest insights from the ground.