‘A gift that falls from the sky’: why farmers are using Etna’s ash as fertiliser

Farmers in towns near Mount Etna, Sicily, are increasingly using volcanic ash as fertilizer. For generations, the excessive ashfall from Etna's frequent eruptions, sometimes reaching 17,000 tonnes daily in nearby Catania, was considered a nuisance. However, a five-year University of Catania project revealed the ash's potential benefits in agriculture and other sectors. The research identified the chemical properties of the ash, showing it can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, making farming more sustainable and cost-effective. Farmers like Andrea Passanisi and Emilio Sciacca now view the ash as a valuable resource, contributing to the unique quality of their crops grown in the volcanic soil. The study also proposes using the ash for road construction, insulation, water purification, and 3D printing ink.

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