Italy’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced €69.2 million of funding for the country’s olive oil sector, with almost half of that sum coming from the European Union.
The money will be used to improve olive oil quality, lower the environmental impact of the country’s olive farms and on new initiatives to trace the origin of olive oil sold on the domestic market.
A wise use of resources by producers’ organizations and their national associations will allow the sector to innovate adequately for the new challenges that await it.
“With the signing of the decree, we are laying the foundations for the start of the new support program for the olive oil sector for the next two years that will lead us to the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP),” said the ministry’s undersecretary for agricultural policies, Giuseppe Abbate.
“A wise use of resources by producers’ organizations and their national associations will allow the sector to innovate adequately for the new challenges that await it, beyond the difficult period of closures to the Horeca sector (hotel, restaurants and cafes) related to the COVID-19 pandemic which inevitably had negative repercussions on sales,” he added.
See Also:CAP UpdatesThe new funds will be made available to producers and other sector members from April 2021 to December 2022.
Of the nearly €70 million available, 20 percent are earmarked for initiatives meant to reduce olive farming’s environmental impact. The ministry’s goal is to use olive trees as a means to recover certain landscapes.
The ministry said these would include works to maintain olive groves with high conservation value and those at risk of being abandoned, especially in orographically challenging locations.
The environmental funds will also cover the local development of improved farming practices, which will be tailored to specific areas. The programs will also be monitored to determine their effectiveness and the results will be made available to other growers
The environmental funds will also include workshops to present techniques to combat the olive fruit fly without chemical products and promote organic farming procedures.
Among the goals are the prevention of soil erosion and a focus on protecting local olive tree varieties and varieties at risk of extinction.
See Also:Apulian Producers Call for More Government Support for Olive Oil SectorThe ministry noted that part of the funds would help adopt new technologies, including digitalized systems and irrigation.
They will also cover underproductive olive trees’ replacements with new trees and educate producers on the best farming techniques.
About €21 million – or 30 percent of the funds – will improve farming conditions, olive harvesting and storage before their transformation, along with the related technical assistance to olive oil mills.
These funds will also add value to byproducts of the production process, create and improve laboratories focused on the organoleptic and physical-chemical profile analysis of olive oil, and train new sensory analysis panels.
The remaining 15 percent of the funds – about €10 million – will cover projects meant to establish new efficient olive oil traceability methods to create a certified production chain.
The ministry added that it plans to create a voluntary certification system based on risk analysis and with dedicated checkpoints.
The funds will also help to develop and put in action new systems and mechanisms needed to ensure the respect of laws and regulations on origin, quality and marketing of both olive oil and table olives.
Related Articles
Jan. 3, 2024
Tuscany Announces Funds to Prevent Olive Grove Abandonment
The measures are meant to encourage growers to take care of abandoned olive trees in difficult terrains and maintain them to prevent wildfire and pest development
Sep. 6, 2023
The Art of Permaculture in Central Italy
The advice of a friendly neighbor inspired the founders of the Italian company Carma to choose a sustainable path to success.
Jul. 5, 2023
Anna Cane Named President of Italian Interprofessional Group
The Filiera Olivicolo Olearia Italiana works to promote cooperation along the olive oil value chain.
Apr. 9, 2024
Slovenian Producers Celebrate Award-Winning Finish to Challenging Harvest
While Slovenia's production fell 20 percent below average, two producers overcame inclement weather and pests to produce award-winning extra virgin olive oil.
Sep. 19, 2023
Training Young Farmers on Climate-Smart Practices in California
The Center for Land-Based Learning trains young farmers on olive growing and soil health.
May. 30, 2023
East Asian Olive Oils Reach the World Stage
As extra virgin olive oil culture slowly expands in China and Japan, high-quality production in two of the world’s largest economies does too.
Nov. 14, 2023
Competition Data Offer Insights Into Olive Oil World
Historically poor harvests did not impact quality and the rising popularity of organic production.
Jul. 5, 2023
Promoting Biodiversity, Improving Soil Health Are Key to Tackling the Global Water Crisis
Researchers in Italy argue that building more reservoirs is insufficient to combat the global water crisis; solutions must be found throughout the hydrological cycle.