More Sustainable Flowers, Smarter Supply Chains: The SOLFLOECO Project Launches with the Contribution of Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies
Reducing environmental impact, improving product quality, and innovating transportation and storage techniques: these are among the key challenges at the heart of SOLFLOECO – Solutions for Environmentally Sustainable Floriculture and Nursery Production, the research project launching in June 2026 with the participation of Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa.
The initiative is part of the supply chain programme FIFS – Italian Sustainable Floriculture and Nursery Production Supply Chain, promoted by the business network Filiera Italiana Florovivaismo Sostenibile and funded by the European Union through NextGenerationEU, within the framework of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), through the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry’s Supply Chain Contracts scheme (5th Call for Proposals). The project brings together a broad partnership that includes research institutions such as CREA and ENEA, as well as more than 20 companies operating in the sector, with the aim of supporting the transition towards more innovative and sustainable production models.
Within this framework, the Institute of Plant Production of Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, coordinated by Professor Antonio Ferrante, will work on developing solutions capable of making a significant difference during the most critical stages of the supply chain, from production and transportation to marketing. Cut flowers, foliage, and ornamental potted plants are particularly sensitive to the stresses associated with handling and prolonged periods within distribution channels.
The research activities will therefore focus on the development of new environmentally friendly post-harvest treatments designed to preserve product quality and promote the recovery of plant physiological conditions, even after long-distance transportation or extended stays at retail outlets. At the same time, innovative packaging systems based on biodegradable materials will be tested, with the aim of improving logistics, optimizing load management, and reducing the environmental footprint of the entire supply chain.
To meet the need to expand consumer offerings, maintain a competitive advantage, and explore new markets, it is also essential to strengthen the production sector through the development of new products (product innovation). The project will seek to identify plant species that are better adapted to ongoing climate change, such as drought-tolerant varieties, thereby reducing water requirements during cultivation. The use of innovative biostimulant compounds will also be evaluated to promote more efficient water use and mitigate water-deficit stress.
With a duration of 42 months (until December 2029) and funding of more than half a million euros allocated to Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, a direct beneficiary of the supply chain project, SOLFLOECO aims to generate tangible benefits for businesses operating in the sector.
The project’s results will be made freely available to companies in the floriculture and nursery industry, with the first publications expected between 2027 and 2028. Information and project outputs will be accessible through the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies website for at least five years after the project’s completion.
In a strategic sector such as floriculture and nursery production, which is increasingly required to combine quality and sustainability, SOLFLOECO represents an important step towards a production model that is more environmentally conscious and responsive to market needs, while strengthening the link between research, innovation, and industry.
