The great success of the congress dedicated to hazelnuts, walnuts and chestnuts. More than five hundred people, mostly technicians and farmers from all parts of Italy, attended the traditional spring gathering in Cherascu (CN), which indicates a high level of interest in the cultivation of these plants, commented after the event Gianluca Griseri, organizer of the event and the person responsible in Cooperative Ascopiemonte , which brings together producers from the region.
This year, in the afternoon they held lectures on walnut and chestnut.
The moderator was Hercules Zuccaro, Director Confagricoltura from Turin.
After the introductory speach of government representatives and the president of producer organizations, the meeting was opened by Alberto Manzo, coordinator of the Department of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, who explained all the activities under the National Plan for Development and financing of 13 projects, of which four are in for the region. The total amount of national funds is 2.4 million euros. In the second part of his speech is the need to improve the quality of planting material, and through certification.
Other starred Giuseppe Russo, president and Guscio di Frutta Confagricoltura, who explained the current situation in the market hazelnuts on a global and national level. Global planted area are increasing, while production from year to year changes, mainly due to climatic factors. The first is Turkey (701,141 ha), followed by Italy (72,125 ha), while third place is emerging Azerbaijan (23,000 ha). In Italy in the first place is Campania (20,418 ha), followed by Lazio (19,401 ha), while the Piedmont in third place with 18,214 ha. Following the rise in prices in 2015, they have become permanent, remaining above the previous value. The need to protect regional brand hazelnut Piedmont at the EU level.
Then Avellana Reus (Spain) described the market hazelnut Catalonia, where only grown. In the 45 years he lost about 18,000 hectares of farmland, mainly in favor of prestigious vineyards. In that country, the sector is characterized by a strong cooperative organization with the structures and the first and second degree, which cover the entire supply chain, from production of raw materials to marketing of various types of finished food products. About 55% of the total production is under the control of cooperatives.
Eddo Rugina the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, described the hazelnuts of Lazio where manufacturers are mainly concentrated in the province of Viterbo. They are represented by three varieties: Tonda gentile romana, Nocchione and Tonda di Giffoni. The quality is obtained thanks to the particular suitability of the environment and genotype, and by improving agricultural techniques, with special emphasis on: nurseries, crop, forms of cultivation, irrigation, especially in the warmer months, fertilization, soil management and mechanical harvesting.
Finally Andrea Allavena from the Council for Agricultural Research and analysis of the agrarian economy, presented a research project on “Innovative technologies to improve fruit”. Using mutagenesis want to make a point mutation in the DNA, in order to improve various properties.
In conclusion Abellonio Roberto, director Confagricoltura Cuneo, welcoming the participants pointed to the need to properly manages the entire supply chain, to ensure that the current euphoria, due to the high price of hazelnuts, do not turn into a dangerous boomerang for the sector.
Then all the participants headed to production facilities Chianchia, where they could see the exposed equipment needed for growing and processing of hazelnuts, walnuts and chestnuts. After visiting the lunch was served for all .
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