Transhumance in Calabria: a journey through the identity, history, and future of the Podolica breed.

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., the "FS Nesci" Seminar Room of the Department of Agriculture at the Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria (Feo di Vito) will host a seminar entirely dedicated to transhumance, understood as a profound phenomenon of belonging and an unbreakable bond with the Calabrian territory. The event will shine a spotlight on the Podolica breed, an extraordinary livestock resource that represents not only the region's rural history but also a cornerstone of the local economy and biodiversity.
The conference will offer an important opportunity for discussion, featuring experts and speakers who will analyze the topic from various perspectives. Alongside a focus on Calabria, valuable experiences and best practices from two other Southern Italian regions historically linked to this tradition will be brought to the table: Basilicata and Sicily.

A significant portion of the conference will be dedicated to the white gold of the Podolica region: cheesemaking. The production processes of unique cheeses will be illustrated, whose flavor and organoleptic properties derive directly from open-air grazing and pristine grass. Speakers will not only celebrate the pastoral tradition, but will also address the phenomenon from a socioeconomic perspective, discussing how transhumance can today become a modern lever for sustainable development, rural tourism, and a means of combating the abandonment of inland areas.

The event is open to industry professionals, students and all citizens wishing to rediscover the roots and economic potential of a unique intangible heritage.