It concerns the qualitative improvement of tobacco also with nanotechnologies, new technical tools for the grower, photonics applied to tobacco, the construction of new production chains complementary to tobacco and research in the energy efficiency and biogas sector. Through qualified collaborations with research institutions and participation in national and international meetings, a high quality standard of experimentation is maintained and the dissemination of results is guaranteed. An important objective linked to innovation is represented by the transfer of know-how of the model

Tobacco quality improvement
In the greenhouse, production in float-systems with low environmental impact has been developed, also with a biological approach, with the study of new biocomposite materials to replace fossil peat. In the field, in addition to varietal research, the validity of starter fertilization has been confirmed, with microgranular, liquid and botanical extract-based fertilizers, while since the 1980s targeted fertilization has been implemented based on soil and plant analysis, with the use of micro and meso elements, mycorrhizae and rhizosphere microorganisms. Micro-irrigation and fertigation have been studied, and the Kc coefficient has been developed for the first time for Virginia Bright in the Città di Castello area. Thanks to biostimulants developed from nanotechnologies, significant results have recently been achieved in terms of product quality, with the objective of “orange”. FAT is co-author of two patents related to aspects aimed at improving tobacco quality and has carried out three research projects in this regard (CE 96/T/66, QualiTaba and Ri.Me.Pe.).

New technical tools for the grower
The use of infrared thermometers (more precisely “infrared thermocouples”) allows to measure the water stress of the plant to consciously decide the best time to start sprinkler irrigation or micro-irrigation. It is a tool capable of increasing the environmental sustainability of tobacco.

New production chains complementary to tobacco
FAT has long set itself the goal of maintaining agricultural employment over the 12 months by developing new activities capable of using the structures (greenhouses) for longer periods, also exploiting the heat of biogas. Over time, a patented technology for the production of very light re-turfed turf has been developed and more recently a complex horticultural production in open fields and in greenhouses, both on the ground and in float systems. FAT has promoted a research project, currently under evaluation, to produce Zero-Residue Zero-Waste vegetables, with the use of advanced agronomic techniques and valorization of waste for new products (nutraceutical extracts, biochar, biocomposites for construction, nanoformulates, etc.). The INSTM Consortium and the University of Tuscia are collaborating on the project.
The forest supply chain offers the opportunity to valorize during the winter a resource present in many companies, to produce wood chips and therefore electrical and thermal energy in one's own plant (17_photo wood chips). More recently, a project has begun for the redevelopment of low hill land to be used for hazelnut cultivation with a primary food industry. All in the logic of finding new opportunities for youth employment.

Energy efficiency and biogas
To make the tobacco curing process sustainable, the residual heat of biogas has been exploited to heat the ovens.
The lines of research with the highest technological content concern:

• Nitrogen enrichment of the liquid phase of the digestate with a process based on the valorization of atmospheric nitrogen and electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic system. The goal is to make crop fertilization more sustainable, reducing the consumption of fertilizers produced from fossil fuels (19_photo fertilization with liquid digestate in micro-irrigation).
• The future valorization of biogas plants after the end of the incentive with the hypothesis of biogas-to-chemicals production.

Participation in national and international meetings and dissemination of results
FAT has always participated in CORESTA, the world organization for tobacco research, and in all the places where there is a lively interest in, with original contributions on all aspects of technological innovation applied to agriculture. Since 2000, there have been over 40 works and presentations at conferences where the name FAT appears.
FAT publishes a magazine, Tabacco&Tobacco, which is aimed at growers and technicians in the sector and was the site of much of the field experimentation of the European Life+2013 EVERGREEN project.