Wheat Senatore Cappelli, the history of an important wheat! In 1906 the Marquis Raffaele Cappelli, owner of several lands in Capitanata (Northern Apulia), decided to employ one of his small farm as a experimental cultivation land. The Agriculture Minister recommended him Nazareno Strampelli as a competent agronomist and geneticist who were experimenting crossbreed techniques in the cultivation of wheat species (in the wake of Mendel’s theories). Strampelli agreed to his proposal. His aim was easy: to increase the proceeds of the harvest. It would have been possible creating a type of wheat which were resistant to the bad weather and drought of specific climatic conditions.
Wheat Senatore Cappelli, the history of an important wheat! In 1906 the Marquis Raffaele Cappelli, owner of several lands in Capitanata (Northern Apulia), decided to employ one of his small farm as a experimental cultivation land. The Agriculture Minister recommended him Nazareno Strampelli as a competent agronomist and geneticist who were experimenting crossbreed techniques in the cultivation of wheat species (in the wake of Mendel’s theories). Strampelli agreed to his proposal.
His aim was easy: to increase the proceeds of the harvest. It would have been possible creating a type of wheat which were resistant to the bad weather and drought of specific climatic conditions.
Without a doubt an hard goal, if we consider that lots of people starved at that time. The first types of wheat that he spread, met big difficulties and resistance. Then Fascist Regime changed the situation. Mussolini met Strampelli to evaluate his discoveries. At that time, Italy imported a big part of wheat coming from the US and the USSR. S
ure of Strampelli proficiency, Mussolini started a wheat war. It took less than six years to achieve success. As far as wheat was concerned, Italy could be considered independent. The Regime honoured Strampelli by electing him senator. But the agronomist, not interested in politics, wrote a letter to Mussolini declining his proposal. The request was rejected and even if the office had been officialised, Strampelli continued devoting himself to his studies.
