3Bee and Winged Lion: First Results of the XNatura

First positive results for XNatura, the biodiversity monitoring project of the Winged Lion Group and naturetech 3Bee, launched just over a year ago in the three farms owned by Generali's agribusiness holding in Portonovo (municipality of Medicina, Bologna), Spazzate (municipality of Conselice, Ravenna) and Costa Arènte (municipality of Grezzana, Verona). The aim of the project is to measure for the first time and in a scientifically precise and punctual manner, the biodiversity of an area, in order to guarantee the safeguarding of the land, the quality of production and the protection of the environment.

The activity was based on the innovative XNatura biodiversity monitoring protocol, developed by 3Bee and characterised specifically by the Flora and Spectrum technologies: the former allows, thanks to the AI and satellite imagery, to map an area, estimate the potential biodiversity of the habitat and its suitability for pollinators; the second, on the other hand, allows us to capture the sound waves emitted by pollinators present in an area, so as to assess their quantity and types.

The data that has emerged from the research so far is flattering. Indeed, the monitoring revealed the quality of the three areas examined: the Flora technology showed the possibility of creating conditions for the pollinators, i.e. the insects or other inanimate agents that carry out pollination, at up to three times the size of the control area, +285%, compared to the surrounding land. Spectrum, on the other hand, confirmed the benefits of the regenerative practices adopted at Portonovo, +40% entomofauna abundance when applied compared to control areas; at Costa Arènte, the positive contribution of the presence of natural areas, be they woods or meadows, was identified, with a +100% abundance of entomofauna, i.e. the total number of insects in a given area, when applied compared to control areas.

The uniqueness of the three estates studied lies in the activities carried out there. At Portonovo, regenerative agriculture is practised with so-called cover crops (i.e. crops used to leave farmland bare, for example during the winter, and which provide agro-ecological services such as protecting the soil, increased fertility and much more) and carbon farming (literally 'carbon farming': an innovative way of farming to sequester carbon in the soil so that it does not end up in the atmosphere). At Spazzate there is a veritable oasis of biodiversity surrounded by intensively farmed land. At Costa Arènte there is a sustainable vineyard, with controlled inter-row grassing and with cruciferous and leguminous plants, set in a very large wooded area.

Niccolò Calandri, CEO of 3Bee, says: "Faced with the challenge of soil degradation, which according to the European Union affects up to 73% of agricultural land, the importance of innovative solutions is more evident than ever. At 3Bee, we are committed to developing technologies to protect biodiversity, a key element of sustainable agriculture. The partnership with Winged Lion is a concrete example of how agriculture can innovate, embracing practices that respect and enrich the environment." The integration of advanced remote monitoring technologies with innovative agricultural practices to promote biodiversity and the health of agricultural ecosystems was the key element in achieving these results. Thanks to the use of the innovative XNatura monitoring protocol, the Winged Lion demonstrates that it is possible to generate a real and measurable impact through the development of a major regenerative agriculture project in Italy.