Academy of Agriculture of Turin

The academy of Agriculture of Turin was founded as the Società Agraria di Torino on 24 May 1785 by King of Sardinia. The main aim of Academy of Agriculture was to "to promote for the public advantage the cultivation of lands mainly in His Majesty's felicitous dominions in accordance with rules both appropriate and in keeping with their varied natures." Later the organisation was granted as royal status and it became  the  Reale Società Agraria and now a days most popularly known as the Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino. The aristocratic landowners of Piedmont took the major initiation and provided leadership in the establishment of the Society. In order to maximise the profitability of their estates they were very much excited to promote the results of scientific research into new and more productive farming methods and this was achieved by developing large network of irrigation canals introducing new animal breeds, extending the cultivation of rice, and establishing new business arrangements: share-cropping was replaced by large-scale leasing agreements. They are now focussed upon the current research on mechanization and crop adaptation techniques to the use of machines in the hills , with special attention to viticulture . They are also giving emphasis on different implantation techniques and forest protection and disposal of the company's waste water by means of capillary subsurface irrigation of the lawn. The Academy's extensive collection is composed of specialised books and articles, together with the proceedings of its monthly meetings with their illustrations of the progress of agriculture and the scientific and technical papers read to its members on these occasions. One of the achievement of this Academy is the establishment of a Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Turin   and simultaneously a degree course in Forest Science in 1980. The Academy is currently engaged on the study of a number of issues. The results of its research are made known through papers and meetings directed to the proper use of the land and its agricultural resources with a view to meeting the pressing need to maintain a liveable environment in which the relationship between man and nature is not disturbed.