Italy

Wheat and oil as agricultural cultural goods 

Grains, as the basis of penne, spaghetti, rigatoni, and other pasta, and oil plants such as olives or sunflowers are at the heart of Italian agricultural and food culture. Especially in the premium segment – such as durum wheat products or cold-pressed virgin oils – in addition to yield, origin, quality, and sustainable cultivation methods are crucial. The market for high-quality food remains stable internationally or is still growing, especially in Asia.¹ In the last ten years, Italian food exports to Asia have increased by around 128%, reaching a value of over 6 billion euros in 2024. This growth requires stable, predictable production conditions – a challenge in the face of increasing weather extremes, resource scarcity, and political restrictions, such as fertilizer use. 

Agri-PV as a response to climate change and land pressure 

Agri-PV allows for dual use of cultivation areas: plants thrive under PV modules while green electricity is generated. For wheat and oil plants, this means specifically: 
An increasingly essential protection against intense sunlight, heavy rain, frost, or hail. The module-induced shading creates a microclimate that provides ideal conditions for the plants and can be optimized through individual adjustments. 
Marginal, border, and unused areas can be equipped with PV modules, creating financial and ecological benefits. 
The infrastructure of the agricultural operation is doubly utilized with few additions and extensions for electricity generation (roads, connections, vehicles are already available.) With some PV modules, rainwater can be collected in a gutter on the ground-level side of the modules and stored in underground basins. Thus, the PV systems not only provide shade but also replace the traditional irrigation of plants, saving significant costs and preserving the groundwater level. 

Advantages for premium food production 

Agri-PV offers numerous advantages specifically for premium products: 
In addition to securing production quantities through protection systems and microclimate control, for example, improving product quality through more uniform growth conditions. 
By promoting sustainable, organic cultivation methods, the need for fertilizers can be reduced. 
In the premium segment, marketing around the origin and production conditions of the products is important – and is strengthened by visible sustainability and technological innovation. 

Framework and challenges 

The successful integration of Agri-PV requires clear and practical legal frameworks. Currently, standardized height and area requirements often hinder individual solutions that would be ideal for crops such as wheat or oil plants. Required legal reforms include: 

The flexible adaptation of the PV architecture to crop and soil requirements. Also, the use of scientifically based models for light, soil, and water availability. In this context, broader research should be promoted in general, examining the technical adjustments necessary for agriculture of the future due to climate change. To accelerate the expansion of Agri-PV, targeted support for interested farmers through European and national agricultural and energy programs is desirable. 

CCE as a partner for a resilient agricultural landscape 

CCE-Holding actively contributes to the development of agronomically sensible Agri-PV concepts. With expertise in technology, energy, and agriculture, CCE plans and implements projects designed to preserve and promote high-quality agricultural products. In close cooperation with local producers, solutions are created that are economically viable, ecologically sound, and accepted in the respective local context. CCE views Agri-PV not as a technical add-on but as a new model of land use in harmony with regional identity and food sovereignty. 

Securing the future with Agri-PV 

The production of high-quality Italian agricultural products such as wine, wheat, and oil can only be secured if agriculture is innovative and resilient. Agri-PV offers the opportunity to actively shape this path – in harmony with nature, technology, and the (world) market. With experienced partners like CCE-Holding, farmers can not only generate electricity but also ensure the continuity of their cultural landscape and enable sustainable premium production in the long term. 

Footnotes:

1: see https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/de/market-reports/food-market

2: see An algorithm for calculating the shade created by greenhouse integrated photovoltaics | Energy, Ecology and Environment