Cascina Oschiena - Crova (VC) - Piedmont

The Oschiena Farmstead is one of the oldest in the province of Vercelli, and was part of the estate of the Abbey of St. Stephen of Vercelli from the 14th century up to the end of the 1700s. Since 2008 Cascina Oschiena is run by Alice Cerutti, 32 years old, an agricultural entrepreneur with a degree in Business Studies, vicepresident of the European Council of Young Farmers. Over the years, extensive renovation work has been carried out, while maintaining the essence and character of the original structures. With great care and attention, all the old buildings have been maintained: the drying kiln and the silos necessary for modern rice cultivation have been seamlessly integrated into the traditional architecture. In 2012 photovoltaic panels were installed to reduce energy consumption from non-renewable sources, making the farm more ecologically sustainable. Alice participates in a project called Ecorice, aimed to protect the environment and encourage biodiversity by recreating ancient rural landscapes. The land occupied by the farm is part of the "Vercelli Rice Fields" Special Protected Area. Rice is coltiveted in accordance with the guidelines of Piedmont region and EU regarding controls on the use of fertilisers and pesticides.