Rice for Your Teeth: Discovering Pavesian Rice

As part of the ASvis 2024 Sustainable Development Festival and the sustainability and circular economy projects active at the University of Pavia, an informational and convivial meeting titled "Rice for Your Teeth: Pavesian Rice from Field to Table" will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Castello di Lardirago. This event celebrates the second anniversary of the Master’s Degree in Agrifood Sustainability at the University of Pavia.

The event, closely tied to the research activities of Spoke 6, invites reflection on rice cultivation in the Pavesian territory, with a particular focus on the "Carnaroli di Carnaroli Pavesiano" variety, as well as others such as Baldo and Rosa Marchetti. These varieties are to be protected and promoted by bringing together consumers, producers, and stakeholders who support these local excellences. However, ongoing climate change, with droughts and extreme weather events, may threaten these crops and render them less viable.

To address these concerns, climatologist Luca Mercalli will discuss the impact of climate change on Padana crops. Following this, geobotanist and lecturer Graziano Rossi and researcher Valentina Vaglia from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Pavia, both involved in the NODES project within Spoke 6, will explore the characteristics of Pavesian rice.

The event will conclude with a lunch featuring tastings of Carnaroli di Carnaroli Pavesiano risotto with pink asparagus from Cilavegna, vegan rice salad made with Baldo organic semi-whole rice from Cascine Orsine, and Rosa Marchetti rice fritters from Azienda Tavazzani, prepared according to the historic recipe of Bartolomeo Scappi, cook to Pope Pius V.