The ‘Re-cereal' initiative not only seeks to boost biodiversity by reintroducing traditional crops, but it is also a scientific project. This includes analysis of genetic, agronomic and nutritional properties of ten different varieties of buckwheat and twelve other varieties of millet.
Established by Dr Anton Schär in 1922, the Dr Schär company has been producing food for people with special nutritional needs for a 100 years. Focussing on biodiversity this family business has expanded to become the leading manufacturer of gluten-free foods in Europe. It has also been participating in a European 'Re-cereal' project to reintroduce the cultivation of oats, millet and buckwheat in the regions around the Italian and Austrian Alps.
Silvano Ciani, one of the coordinators of the 'Re-cereal' initiative, spoke to Euronews about the history of the company and the challenges facing cereal farmers in the the future.