Harvesting solutions for grain terraces

Cereal cultivation on arable terraces in mountain regions such as Valais or South Tyrol has been gaining in importance again for some time. The crux of cereal cultivation on arable terraces in mountain areas is, as in the past, the harvesting of the grain. In the past, the grain was cut before it was ripe, bundled and stored in the field for post-drying and then threshed at a later date on a standing thresher. In the meantime, various mechanical solutions have been developed for harvesting grain. However, these machines are too heavy, large and wide to work on the narrow arable terraces, some of which have steep and narrow access roads. To date, there are no mechanical solutions for harvesting grain on these special areas.

Based on the preliminary study ‘Combine harvesters for arable terraces in mountain areas’, a new project application for an Interreg project to develop a retrofit solution for harvesting machines in alpine regions was submitted and approved last year. 

We are therefore very pleased to present the Interreg project called CereAlp to you today. In collaboration with the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, the citizens' cooperative Obervintschgau, the association “Roggenkleinproduzenten im Oberwallis” (RoKPOb) and the association “Erlebniswelt Roggen”, a prototype of a machine specialising in the harvesting of cereals on arable terraces will be built and tested for various parameters over a project period of 2.5 years. 

CereAlp: A cross-border innovation center for Alpine cereal cultivation

Grain cultivation in Alpine regions presents farmers with special challenges – from steep slopes to extreme weather conditions to limited possibilities for using technology. Solutions are, however, being explored  -- through the project CereAlp. Its aim is to create a cross-border service center that facilitates the cultivation of grain in the Alps through innovative technologies and targeted support.

The center will develop new mechanized solutions, be it by building prototypes or by adapting existing machines. Specialized workshops then monitor the implementation and ensure that the new technologies can be used optimally in practice. In addition to developing new machines, the project’s focus is also on their safety. New or modified devices are certified in the center's laboratories and their functionality is tested under extreme conditions.

In order to make the most efficient use of the machines, a digital remote monitoring system is being implemented. It automatically records data and enables precise control and maintenance. In addition, field trials are being carried out using standardized methods to analyze and minimize crop losses.

The entire value chain of Alpine grain cultivation is also being analysed. The aim is to improve the efficiency and economy of production in these mountain regions. In addition to research and technical support, the project attaches great importance to knowledge transfer. Training and further education are to help farmers learn modern grain technologies and use them professionally.

With all these measures CereAlp will help make cereal cultivation in the Alps more sustainable and economically viable. This close connection between technology, research and practical support creates new opportunities for agriculture at challenging altitudes.

In February 2025 the project partners met with the official project managers from Interreg for the official kickoff meeting in Glurns in South Tyrol. In addition to presentations of the Interreg program by the respective project partners, exchange with the local farmer* was the center of the meeting. Planning meetings with the various partners, various company visits and visits to local bakeries were also on the program.

Write comment

Comments

No Comments