Mechanization in harvesting saffron: an opportunity for economic development in Sardinia

In last decades it can be seen a strong growth of the biologic sector. In UE and USA in last years about 15-20 millions of Euro is the market value. The Sardinian Saffron spice DOP is certainty a biologic product. The saffron spice production is actually marginal because of high cost of the production phases, overall the harvesting phase of the flower on field, that is completely made by hand. The saffron harvesting mechanization is a winning chance also under a socio-economic point of view. A good answer to the too high harvesting and separating phases costs, is an integrated system to obtain the spice stigmas for successive drying and packaging phases of production. Main parts of the system are the harvesting device and the double cyclone separator plant. Two harvesting devices will be described, presenting the operating principle and describing the performances on field; in addition, the double flow cyclone separator will be described and the performances will be evaluated, presenting a statistical overview of the on field activity.