Italian nut grower-shipper presents the new international supply chain project
The goal is to enhance the cultivation of walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds, creating a supply chain project with the producers in Central Europe and Central Asia, areas where the soil and climatic characteristics allow the crops to perform at their best.
The ambitious project, which foresees an investment of 2 million euros, has seen its kick-off already 3 years ago, thanks to the knowledge of the varietal characteristics of the cultivars identified by the Besana Group in almost 100 years of activity and, in first person, by the President Giuseppe "Pino" Calcagni in his long experience in the nut sector.
"The goal of the project is to increase the production of nuts, favoring the diffusion of valuable cultivars - said Pino Calcagni - The project also has very important social implications, such as the growth of poorly developed areas and the introduction of modern agricultural technologies among the local populations".
The Besana International development project is divided into several phases. The young plants of hazelnut, almond and walnut trees are multiplied by micro-propagation or grafting in important Italian and Spanish nurseries. The plants are then sent to three centers specialized in hardening, from which they are distributed to the European and Asian producers who participate in the project.
The Besana Group provides partners with technical assistance and support in the construction of irrigation systems, as well as consultancy on mechanization, which is fundamental for this type of agriculture.
With a view to cultivate plants suitable for the environment, in 2017 the Besana Group inaugurated in Kazakhstan three fields of varietal comparison of walnuts and hazelnuts. In these fields varieties originating from Europe, America and Asia were compared.
"In the past only the consumer products spoke for us, with market proposals that for several years now have seen us at the top in the retail market and industry - concluded the President – but from now on it will also be the model of integrated supply chain international to stand out. The partnership project we have set up is a new way of doing business: Starting from the selection of the cultivars, through the modernization and the support of the agricultural activity, up to the marketing of the product all over the world. A unique development project that helps all partners involved, for a final product with high added value."
---
Besana Group - The history of Besana has its roots in 1921 and since then has been steered always by the same family. The founder Emilio was followed by his brother Vincenzo and his nephew Giuseppe, up to the fourth generation of today, where Pino works side by side with his son Riccardo and his daughter Vittoria. Today Besana, whose headquarter has always been in San Gennaro Vesuviano (near Naples), operates in five continents, importing raw materials from 30 countries and processing annually 42,000 tons of dried fruit, dried fruit and seeds. The Group is one of the founding members of AlmaverdeBio, the first organic brand in Italy. In 2017, Besana's turnover reached 190 million euros, up 15% on previous years.