Content overview: “Italian Rice Farmer Alice Cerutti Restores 400-Year-Old Fields into Biodiversity Haven, Be”. In northwest Italy, farmer Alice Cerutti has transformed a third of her family's historic rice fields—first cultivated by monks four centuries ago—back into natural wetlands, prioritizing biodiversity over crop yield. Her farm, located in the Piedmont region's Po Valley, now hosts a mosaic of marshes, woods, and meadows that support diverse wildlife, including birds, amphibians, and insects. Cerutti's approach is a direct response to climate change: the restored wetlands act as a natural buffer against heatwaves and drought, cooling the microclimate and retaining water during dry spells.
This shift away from monoculture rice farming also reduces the need for chemical inputs, improving soil health and water quality. By blending conservation with agriculture, Cerutti demonstrates that farmers can adapt to a warming planet while boosting local ecosystems. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.