Who We Are - Catella Società Semplice Agricola

Rice cultivation has undergone very few changes since the 9th century AD.

The earliest evidence of rice cultivation in the Baraggia region is attributed to shepherds who, during their seasonal migration to the mountains, scattered rice seeds - likely of Occitan origin - into the marshes they crossed. In September and October, as they returned from the mountains, they harvested the crop: rice.

The Benedictine monks were the first to recognize the importance of cultivating the "King of Cereals" in the lands of Baraggia and throughout the Po Valley. A resolution from the Municipal Council of Salussola, dating back to 1669, states that rice paddies were created because the land was unsuitable for any other crop. That remains true to this day.

At Catella, we treasure the knowledge and traditions of the past while looking firmly toward the future.

Modern cultivation techniques, supported by state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, go hand in hand with tradition. Daily water management, careful maintenance of the rice fields, and processing in a traditional artisan rice mill allow us to produce rice of outstanding quality.