Another study developed within the CARINA project, titled “Exploring intraspecific variation in salinity tolerance at germination and seedling development stages in Camelina sativa”, examines how different camelina varieties respond to salinity during germination and early seedling development.
The study evaluated a wide range of camelina accessions under controlled saline conditions, focusing on their ability to germinate and grow during the early stages of development. The results show that while many accessions maintain high germination rates under salinity, their subsequent growth performance can vary significantly.
Three main response patterns were identified, reflecting different adaptation strategies. Some varieties showed delayed but strong development, others combined lower germination with moderate growth, while some germinated quickly but performed less well during later stages.
These findings highlight that salinity tolerance in camelina depends on the growth stage and underline the importance of evaluating both germination and seedling development when selecting suitable varieties.
The results contribute to ongoing research supporting the use of camelina as a crop for saline and marginal environments and provide useful insights for breeding and crop selection.
Read the full publication here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1713651

A recent publication from the CARINA project, titled “On Farm Camelina Performance on Salt-Affected Mediterranean Coastal Soils: Evidence from Northeastern Italy”, presents field-based research on camelina cultivation under saline Mediterranean conditions.

The study is based on a two-season on-farm trial in northeastern Italy, comparing camelina cultivation at a non-saline inland site and a saline coastal site. Results show that soil salinity can vary significantly during the growing season, increasing notably during later growth stages.

Despite these changing conditions, some camelina lines maintained stable seed yields under saline conditions, while others showed reduced performance. The findings also indicate that changes in salinity over time, rather than absolute levels alone, play an important role in determining crop outcomes.

Overall, the study provides field-based evidence of camelina’s potential as a diversification crop for moderately salt-affected environments. It also highlights the importance of selecting suitable crop lines and considering seasonal salinity dynamics in crop planning.

Read the full publication here: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16030340

The CARINA project has published its 7th newsletter, bringing together the latest updates from across the consortium.

This edition features recent project activities, scientific publications, dissemination events and stakeholder engagement initiatives, highlighting ongoing work to promote camelina and carinata as sustainable crops supporting diversified agricultural systems and Europe’s bio-based economy.

Whether you have been following CARINA from the beginning or are discovering the project for the first time, the newsletter provides a concise overview of our latest progress and achievements.

Read the newsletter here.

Project partner Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) has published a new article presenting key findings from the CARINA Environmental Assessment Report (D3.4), focusing on sustainability pathways for bio-based value chains.
The report combines Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with the RSB Principles & Criteria framework to assess environmental, social and economic aspects of camelina-based production systems. The research particularly examined camelina cultivation on marginal land and analysed how regional conditions, farming practices and value chain integration influence sustainability outcomes.
Among the main findings, the study highlights:
• the importance of integrating camelina strategically within existing agricultural systems,
• the role of fertilisation practices as a major environmental hotspot,
• and the need for context-specific approaches rather than universal solutions for sustainable bioeconomy development.
The report also emphasises that the same feedstock can produce different sustainability outcomes depending on local agronomic, economic and regulatory conditions, underlining the importance of robust sustainability assessment frameworks and credible certification systems.
The article demonstrates how CARINA contributes to the development of scientifically grounded and practically applicable pathways for sustainable bio-based value chains in Europe.
Read the full article here: https://rsb.org/2026/04/21/carina-environmental-assessment-report-context-specific-strategies-for-bio-based-value-chains/