From Italy to Argentina to advance sustainable weed management

In November-December 2025, Elisa Lorenzetti, post-doctoral researcher from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, completed her secondment at The Argentine No-Till Farmers Association (Aapresid) within the NeutraWeed project.

During her stay, Elisa visited several organic farms in the regions of Buenos Aires and Córdoba supported by Aapresid, as well as farms in El Bolsón supported by INTA (Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria).

In Buenos Aires and Córdoba, she visited both organic and conventional farms producing cereals and chickpeas. Through discussions with farmers, technicians, and researchers, she explored current practices for weed monitoring and management, along with the main challenges and constraints associated with low-input organic production. She also visited a processing plant, gaining insight into the trade-offs between processors and farmers involved in export-oriented production.

In El Bolsón, she visited farms specialising in small fruit production, among the most advanced examples of integrated systems combining crop rotation and livestock grazing. Several initiatives focus on the recovery and cultivation of wild berries, including calafate. INTA supports these farms by coordinating on-farm production, monitoring biostimulants, and studying their effects. Special thanks go to Andrea Cardozo for her valuable support and guidance during the visits.

In addition, Elisa supported Maria Muñoz Arbelaez and Anna Rizzolo, her colleagues from Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, in conducting a field experiment at the School of Agriculture of the University of Buenos Aires (FAUBA). The study evaluated the effects of biostimulants and ultra-diluted preparations on chickpea germination (under controlled and field conditions), their potential to inhibit invasive weed germination, and their impact on field floristic composition.

Elisa’s secondment strengthened collaboration between Italian and Argentine organizations, contributed valuable experimental data for NeutraWeed, and reinforced capacity building in agroecological weed management.

Stay tuned for upcoming results and publications from this work!