"Academy Olivo": two days of fieldwork, innovation, markets, and strategies for the future of olive growing.

From field practice to strategies for relaunching the sector: this is the common thread of “Academy Olivo in Campo – Calabria” , the initiative promoted by the Calabria Region and ARSAC , in collaboration with “L'Informatore Agrario” , which on 1 and 2 October will bring to Calabria a moment of updating and discussion dedicated to the entire olive oil supply chain.

The event features a program spread over two days and two symbolic locations: the Statti farm in Lamezia Terme , where the discussion will start directly from the olive grove, and the “Jole Santelli” regional citadel in Catanzaro, the venue for the final day dedicated to economic, commercial and institutional aspects.

A formula that confirms the Academy's distinctive feature: bringing knowledge to the places of production, connecting research, technical expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and public programming.

The first day, Thursday, October 1st, will be dedicated entirely to the technical aspects of modern olive growing. After registration, a guided tour of the Statti olive grove will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., focusing on three key aspects of system efficiency: pruning, irrigation, and harvest mechanization. The activity will be organized by the Regional Federation of the Orders of Agronomists and Forestry Specialists of Calabria .

The training will continue with a workshop dedicated to the mechanization of harvesting and pruning for the efficiency of olive groves, with authoritative presentations by Bruno Bernardi of the Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria and Simone Pascuzzi of the University of Bari .

In the afternoon, attention will shift to the choices that determine the production capacity and sustainability of the olive grove: from the relationship between genotype, variety, and planting system to the irrigation needs of modern olive growing, with presentations by professors Rocco Mafrica (Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria) and Giovanni Caruso (University of Pisa) .

One of the most topical moments of the first day will be dedicated to the physiology and phytosanitary status of the olive tree in the new climate context, a topic entrusted to Giuseppe Montanaro of the University of Basilicata . This will be followed by an in-depth analysis of the first reports of Xylella in Calabria, with an update on the status of the outbreak by Giovanni Pandullo, director of the Environment, Livestock and Agri-food Planning sector of the Calabria Region . Milena Petriccione and Elena Santilli of Crea-Ofa , coordinator of the Novixgen project, will follow with a contribution on the knowledge and prospects for the protection of olive growing, most highlighted and activated by the initiatives implemented in the Calabria Region's strategy, illustrated by the regional councilor for Agriculture, Gianluca Gallo .

The first day of work will conclude with a focus on olive tree nutrition, from the pre-planting phase to cultivation and full production, with Rosario De Leo , multi-purpose agricultural advisor at ARSAC , and Marika Desopo of Agrimeca grape and fruit consulting .

An informational and training program that focuses on the practical management of olive groves and the need to rapidly transfer knowledge and innovation into the daily practices of companies.

On Friday, October 2nd, the Academy will move to the Regional Citadel, where the program will broaden its focus from olive grove management to the economic prospects of the supply chain.

The day will open with a workshop dedicated to some of the most sensitive topics and aspects for producers and businesses today: the international scenario of plants and consumption and new investments to respond to the market, illustrated respectively by professor Juan Villar , of the University of Jaén (Spain) and Hugo Janeiro , Director of AGR of the De Prado Company (Spain) . These presentations will provide inspiration for Tiziana Sarnari of Ismea to discuss the trends of the international market and olive oil prices.

In the second part of the morning, coordinated by expert journalist Francesco Cherubini , we will discuss quality and GI and BIO certifications as strategic tools for marketing and promoting olive oil. The panel will feature representatives of Calabria's Geographical Indications: Massimino Magliocchi, President of the Consortium for the Protection and Promotion of "Olio di Calabria PGI" ; Salvatore Biafora, President of the Consortium for the Protection and Promotion of Alto Crotonese DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Pierluigi Taccone and Mariangela Costantino, President and Vice President of the Consortium for the Protection and Promotion of Lametia DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

The discussion will continue in the afternoon with case histories of successful olive growers, offering a moment dedicated to entrepreneurial experiences and models capable of combining production, efficiency, and valorization. Speakers will include: Pompeo Farchioni (President and CEO of Farchioni Olii Spa) , Nicolangelo Marsicani (Frantoio Marsicani, Salerno) , Maria Grazia Minisci (Frantoio La Molazza, Cosenza) , Americo Quattrociocchi (Americo Quattrociocchi Organic Farm, Latina) , and Paola Scisci (Frantoio Scisci, Bari).

The final part of the Academy will be introduced by the conference “The role of olive growing in the agricultural economy of Central and Southern Italy”, with an in-depth analysis of the Regional Olive Growing Revival Plan with Francesco Chiellino of the Agriculture Department of the Calabria Region .

Following this, a round table discussion will open with a live presentation by Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, followed by a discussion between the agriculture councilors of Puglia, Campania, Sicily, and Basilicata, and the Calabria Regional Councilor for Agriculture, Gianluca Gallo . This will be an important opportunity for the main olive-growing regions of Southern Italy to discuss the shared perspectives of a supply chain that represents a highly significant productive, economic, and territorial heritage. This discussion will be facilitated by the contribution of the Rector of the Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Giuseppe Zimbalatti .

The "Academy Olivo in Campo – Calabria" program thus provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing the sector: plant efficiency, technical innovation, water management, mechanization, nutrition, climate change, plant protection, quality, certifications, markets, and agricultural planning.

These are closely related issues, because the competitiveness of olive growing depends not only on production capacity, but also on the ability to produce better, more efficiently, enhance quality, understand markets, and create conditions for greater economic sustainability for businesses. It is precisely from this perspective that the Academy intends to foster dialogue between those who study, those who produce, those who technically support companies, and those responsible for defining policies for the sector.

For two days, Calabria will become a hub for training and discussion on olive growing, with a journey that begins with the land and the tree, extends through research and enterprise, and culminates in the strategies needed to build the future of the supply chain.