Cultural and economic enhancement of truffles: collaboration kicks off between the Sant'Anna School's Crop Science Research Center, the Bettino Ricasoli Institute of Siena, the Associazione Tartufai Senesi and the Associazione Tartufai del Garbo

The Crop Science Research Center of the Sant'Anna School and the Bettino Ricasoli Institute of Secondary Education in Siena have embarked on a three-year scientific-didactic collaboration, in which the Associazione Tartufai Senesi and the Associazione Tartufai del Garbo also participate, for the purpose of enhancing and improving agricultural and forestry production, with particular reference to interventions on natural and cultivated truffle grounds, with the main objective of upgrading natural truffle grounds in order to conserve local biodiversity.

The Ricasoli Institute enjoys, in-house, a space in which there is the presence of land devoted to truffle growing, particularly the prized white truffle, and aims to involve its students through the programming of educational interventions on the subject. The collaboration includes the initiation of a research project, with all components of the agreement engaged in field activities. In particular, theCrop Science Research Center of the Sant'Anna School is collaborating in the implementation of the truffle farm "La Selva" with other mycorrhized plants, in the implementation of surveys and monitoring of the cultivated area, assisted by the students of the Institute.