160 participants from Asia (China and Korea), South America (Chile), Eastern Europe (Hungary, Bosnia and Macedonia) and other European countries traditionally involved in chestnut cultivation (Spain, Portugal, France and Italy) took part in the V European chestnut meeting in Spain.
Promoted by Areflh - Associazione delle Regioni Ortofrutticole Europee e dalla Mesa del Castagno del Bierzo, the meeting analysed the production and marketing trend as well as new production and cultivation methods.
Particular attention was dedicated to the diseases that affect chestnut groves, such as ink disease and bark cancer, as well as problems connected to the presence of insects like Cydie, Balanino and especially Dryocosmus kuriphilus. Speakers particularly expressed their concern as regards the damage the latter insect is causing and might cause in the future.
Massimo Bariselli talked about his experience in the fight against Dryocosmus kuriphilus : he introduced the specific Torymus sinensis parassitoid and created "multiplication areas" to breed new parassitoids.
A drop in production would open the door to chestnuts from other countries like China and Turkey. They manage to produce big quantities at competitive prices, but the quality of their produce is not as good as the European one.
Massimo Bariselli talked about his experience in the fight against Dryocosmus kuriphilus : he introduced the specific Torymus sinensis parassitoid and created "multiplication areas" to breed new parassitoids.
A drop in production would open the door to chestnuts from other countries like China and Turkey. They manage to produce big quantities at competitive prices, but the quality of their produce is not as good as the European one.
Numerous chestnut groves, processing plants and packaging warehouses were also examined.
"Producers, associations, technicians, traders, processers, packagers and even Institutions are particularly interested in what was discussed during the meeting," says Luciano Trentini (in the photo), deputy president of Areflh.
"It represent an occasion to gather more information at a technical-agronomic and commercial level. The objective is to relaunch chestnut cultivation through new investments, especially considering the great demand."
"Chestnuts are also suitable for coeliacs. In addition, they are cultivated in areas that are usually not suitable for other types of fruit or vegetables and chestnut cultivation can even help prevent depopulation in mountain areas."