Hortus Gymnasium:
smart farming

Hortus Gymnasiums.agr.r.l. wants to become a leading example of Smart Farming, and is channeling its planning and implementing resources to be innovative from the organizational and management point of view with the goal of becoming a “model” company.

Business multifunctionality in agriculture, thanks to the labor market flexibility and diversified income streams, constitutes the main antidote to depopulation in rural areas. The national statistics demonstrate growth of secondary activities in agriculture in recent years. The interest of European rural development policies directs the support of Rural Development Programs (PSR) towards further diversification of agricultural activities (hospitality, catering, craftsmanship, renewable energy production, landscape conservation). This is considered a valuable tool to increase the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises by meeting market demands and reducing income risks. Simultaneously, it aims to achieve social and environmental objectives. If we take a look at related activities (contracting, initial processing of agricultural products, land maintenance, support activities related to breeding), the incidence of non-agricultural activities carried out by agricultural companies (agritourism, recreational, social and educational activities; craftsmanship, woodworking; renewable energy such as photovoltaic, biogas, biomass; landscaping of parks and gardens; processing of plant products (fruits), animal products (meat) and milk; direct sales and marketing; feed production; aquaculture) that characterize multifunctionality with respect to agricultural production was 21 % in 2015, compared to 14% in 2000.

The company Hortus Gymnasium, to establish itself as an innovative multifunctional agricultural enterprise right from its origins in the Vigna di Valle, Lazio, and Via in Rose, Calabria estates, has placed priority attention on:

• in the integration of the value-added chain: cultivation, processing, and marketing, using as much as possible of their own agricultural production for on-site processing to increase the selling price,

• in diversifying income sources: agri-food, fishing, essential oils, energy production, agritourism, and edutainment.

The business plan launched by Hortus Gymnasium, “SMART FARMING MADE IN ITALY: an Italian model of agricultural business innovation”, outlines the development of a smart agricultural enterprise with:

• wide use of ICT for both e-commerce and resource management (energy production, water saving, input and waste minimization);
• complete renewal of architecture and engineering infrastructures to improve their eco-sustainability and maximize their aesthetic and landscape quality;
• support to the production of food goods, services capable of promoting the territory and favoring the community, such as the conservation of native botanical species, educational tourism, the food and wine sector, the well being of the person through the use of plant essences.