SUSTAINABLE
Agriculture
SUSTAINABLE
Agriculture
Innovative, sustainable and environmentally friendly farm
Bio28 aims to enhance and respect the soil and the environment, choosing an approach of research and innovation. In fact, various naturalistic engineering techniques are pursued to sustainably contain the land and to enhance an agricultural economic circularity,reducing negative externalities and enhancing agri-food waste and waste throughout the supply chain.
The mission can be simplified in two terms: regenerative agriculture, which is agriculture aimed at regenerating and enhancing the soil, with an innate capacity for self-renewal and resilience Waste is always minimized and reused. An emblematic example is that of wood chips: pruning residues, instead of being disposed of as waste, become a mulch for vegetables.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICOLTURE
Approach & Techniques
SUSTAINABLE AGRICOLTURE
Approach & Techniques
Another important intervention is phytodepuration: a natural solution for wastewater treatment that mimics the self-purifying capacity of natural wetlands by exploiting complex biochemical, physical, and physiological purification processes resulting from a combined action between substrate, plants, effluent, and microorganisms present. This system offers an excellent ecological alternative to connection to the public sewer system and all traditional sewage treatment plants. The water filtered through phytodepuration is then used to irrigate Bio28's meadows and soils.
The greenhouses are made by combining the best technologies for automation and remote control of its systems. The roofs of all our greenhouses can be opened automatically.In fact, they are connected to temperature sensors that communicate with the control unit and modulate the partial or total opening in relation to the temperature to be achieved inside the greenhouses and the outside temperatures. The roof-opening system is excellent for managing indoor temperatures because it takes advantage of the chimney effect due to the exit of warm air from the openings at the top and the entry of cooler air from the openings located in the bottom parts of the greenhouses. The continuous recirculation of air especially in the spring and summer months not only allows the greenhouse to be cooled but also allows proper ventilation for our plants.
The shades used for our Subtropical Greenhouse and Orchid Greenhouse are made of a technical material that can let through the right amount of light for plants to grow. The greenhouses at the same time provide people with optimum comfort. The shades are automatically controlled and open fully or only partially depending on the amount of light we decide to have inside the greenhouse for the growth of our plants. The material that makes up the shade sheets also has the important function of allowing during the winter months to retain heat inside the greenhouse.
Irrigation systems in greenhouses consist of drip-crop operations fed by underground tanks that collect rainwater. Drip-by-drip systems provide efficient watering by eliminating water waste because the water is delivered directly to the soil. Irrigation is controlled by a special control unit that can also be programmed remotely.
It was decided to implement in the construction phase of the greenhouse with a fertigation system.A dispenser feeds other types of liquids into the irrigation pipes, proving optimal for administering organic fertilizers efficiently and without waste during irrigation shifts. We also use this very practical system to administer microorganisms and mycorrhizae to our plants that are very important, due to our philosophy of regenerative agriculture, to make our plants grow healthy and strong.
The greenhouses, like all our gardens, are managed using only products of natural origin. Our manures are organic and organo-mineral fertilizers. The soil conditioners consist of compost. For pest control, we make extensive use of antagonistic insects; for example, the distribution of the ladybug Adalia bipunctata combats aphid infestations, and the mite phytoseiulus persimilis to combat red spider mite. We use microorganisms such as bacillus subtilis and trichoderma harzianum to promote plant growth and improve pathogen resistance.
In gardens and green spaces, water consumption control begins at the design stage with the selection of plant species that require minimal water. For this reason, we make extensive use of plants such as rosemary, ornamental grasses (like Pennisetum alopecuroides, which is present in the planters on the first floor of the main dance hall), Prunus lusitanica, Viburnum tinus, and Osmanthus spp. All fruit trees are grafted onto rootstock known as “Franco,” which has lower water requirements compared to other rootstocks. In 2023, we created a garden entirely made up of herbaceous plants and grasses at the center of our glamping site. This area allows us to enjoy continuous blooming from spring through fall, while requiring minimal water maintenance. As a result, it’s a green, fragrant space, notable for its colors and sustainability.