Rice farming in the streets of Italy

Rice cultivation is of great importance within the Italian agricultural economy, but it requires increasingly advanced technologies. With over 230,000 hectares under cultivation and high-quality varieties, Italy is the European leader, accounting for over 50 per cent of total production on its own. However, the sector’s stability is threatened by drought, low market prices and competition from foreign imports, meaning that the sector’s economic sustainability depends, now more than ever, on the use of advanced technologies capable of managing all production factors in a scientific manner.

This is the message that branch association FederUnacoma aims to convey through its exhibition of innovative machinery and technologies specifically designed for rice cultivation as part of RISO’, the event dedicated to this valuable cereal, organized by the Province and City of Vercelli together with the National Rice Authority (Ente Nazionale Risi) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MASAF), taking place in Vercelli from 11 to 13 September. Following its successful debut at the first edition of the Piedmontese event in September 2025, agricultural machinery is once again taking center stage with the display of seventeen highly innovative machines. Powerful and versatile tractors, suitable for ploughing, sowing, irrigation and harvesting; multi-purpose blades for constructing solid embankments, capable of maintaining a constant water level in the rice paddy and preventing leaks and seepage; and levelling blades, which create perfectly horizontal rice paddies allowing for uniform water distribution, are just some of the types of specialized machinery on display in Vercelli.

In addition to these – also on display at RISO’ – there are precision seeders, electric telescopic loaders for CO₂-free operation in the field, combine harvesters fitted with specialized harvesting attachments, and reaper-binders for harvesting in dry-farmed rice fields. Among the models on display is also an agricultural robot capable of carrying out cultivation operations such as weeding with extreme precision.

“The technologies produced by Italian manufacturers are capable of managing rice paddies with extreme precision, complying with the phytosanitary parameters imposed by the European Union, conserving water resources and significantly reducing labour costs,” explains Mariateresa Maschio, President of FederUnacoma, “and thus enable production costs to be kept in check in a sector, such as the rice industry, which currently offers low profitability”.

“Our Federation’s presence at the RISO’ event strengthens our collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry,” emphasizes Simona Rapastella, Director-General of FederUnacoma, “and forms part of a comprehensive programme which, in recent years, has included exhibitions and machine demonstrations at the main events dedicated to agriculture. This is precisely to highlight how mechanization is a fundamental tool for the competitiveness of Italian production, and how machinery can be a valuable ally for agricultural businesses.”