How agriculture is changing: interview with Elisa Pellegrino, assistant professote at the Institute of Crop Science
Producing more with fewer resources, reducing environmental impact without compromising yields and quality, responding to water scarcity and market volatility: contemporary agriculture is undergoing a profound transformation, and the book 'The Future of Agriculture. Paths of innovation and new challenges' charts a clear course towards more resilient and sustainable farming systems. Among the authors of the volume is Elisa Pellegrino, assistant professor at the Institute of Crop Science at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa. We discussed with her the challenges and opportunities of an agriculture that does not merely adopt new technologies, but fundamentally rethinks its production model.
What are the main challenges facing farmers today? And how can research and innovation help them overcome these challenges?
Today, farmers are called upon to produce more and better, using fewer resources and reducing their environmental impact. Water scarcity, volatile fertiliser prices, regulatory restrictions on crop protection products and increased biotic and abiotic stresses are forcing a profound rethinking of cropping systems. In my field of research, we are working on a crucial aspect of the agroecological transition: improving nutrient use efficiency through biological soil management, enhancing the role of beneficial microorganisms. Soil is not a simple inert substrate, but a complex and dynamic ecosystem. Arbuscular mycorrhizae, plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) and microbial consortia can increase nitrogen and phosphorus uptake, improve water use efficiency, stimulate plants' natural defences and compete with pathogens, reducing the incidence of disease. In this context, innovation is not only technological but also agroecological: it means designing cropping systems that exploit soil biodiversity and natural biological processes to reduce dependence on external inputs while maintaining yields and quality.
What changes are you seeing in the agricultural sector thanks to technological and sustainable innovation?
In recent years, we have been witnessing a profound change in the way farms manage resources and make decisions. There is growing adoption of digital tools, field sensors, decision support systems, forecasting models and data management platforms, which enable more targeted interventions and a reduction in chemical inputs, water and energy consumption. At the same time, there is a growing focus on sustainability throughout the supply chain: circular economy, waste recovery, promotion of local production, environmental and quality certifications. Innovation increasingly affects the entire business system, from production to processing, marketing and consumer relations. I also observe a growing “biologisation” of agriculture: many companies are experimenting with mycorrhizal inoculants to improve phosphorus absorption in poor soils, bacterial consortia to increase nitrogen efficiency, and antagonistic microorganisms to control soil pathogens. The integration of precision agriculture and microbial biostimulants allows, in many cases, for a reduction in fertiliser doses while maintaining comparable production levels, with economic and environmental benefits. The change is also cultural: there is growing collaboration between agricultural businesses, universities, research centres, consultants and institutions. This participatory approach is one of the key factors in making innovation truly effective and widespread.
Your research group has gained valuable experience through national and international projects. How has this experience strengthened collaboration between scientific research, agricultural businesses and institutions?
National and European projects have fostered a paradigm shift: from research “for” businesses to research “with” businesses. Tools such as Operational Groups and multi-stakeholder partnerships have created spaces for discussion where farmers, researchers, consultants and institutions share objectives, critical issues and solutions. This approach increases the likelihood that innovation will actually be adopted, because it arises from concrete needs. International experiences have also broadened the perspective, allowing for comparison between different territories that share similar problems and promoting the exchange of good practices. The integration of research, production systems and territorial governance is now one of the key elements in strengthening the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
What will the future of agriculture look like?
The future of agriculture will be more complex, but also more conscious. It will be an agriculture capable of integrating digital innovation and ecological knowledge, advanced technology and sustainable soil management, production efficiency and nutritional quality. The real leap in quality will be cultural: from a model focused exclusively on maximising yield to one oriented towards the regeneration of resources and the creation of overall economic, environmental and social value. The most profound transformation will be the transition from agriculture based mainly on chemical inputs to agriculture that activates and enhances biological processes and the use of beneficial microorganisms. In this scenario, research will play a central role not only in the development of new solutions, but also in the construction of shared knowledge. Universities and research centres will be called upon to train professionals capable of understanding the complexity of the soil-plant-environment system and the entire agri-food system, guiding a truly sustainable, resilient and scientifically based transition.
