Italian professionals working abroad with citrus, dried fruits and kaki productions

Despite some problems in terms of structure and supply chain organization, Italian production and farmers are seen by foreign countries, especially those in the Maghreb and the Middle East, as a role model for production results, for they are obtained by methods that take into account techniques and profit, as well as ethical, social and environmental issues.

Training day on citrus tree canopy management for young people of Syrian origin at a mandarin-like planting in Adana, Turkey

However, it should be pointed out that in most cases such qualitative and quantitative production results are also the result of professionals and technicians in the sector, who, because of their skills and professionalism, seem to be in high demand by European and non-European agricultural enterprises. In this regard, we spoke with Vito Vitelli, an agronomist with 25 years of experience, who has interesting partnerships with foreign professionals, with whom he is responsible for consulting, designing and implementing new plants.

A moment of the inspection and soil sampling for the setting up and development of a project on the realization of a diospiretum in Tblisi, Georgia

"Entrusting the direction of a field to an Italian consultant definitely constitutes an added value for a foreign agricultural company," explained Vitelli. The professional relationship of trust is strengthened by another, all-Italian component linked to empathy, which soon turns into friendship and mutual esteem between producer and technician."

"To date, the countries that are interesting collaborations are those in the Middle East region, such as Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, but also neighboring Greece, Albania, and northern Macedonia. These are groups of investors, many of them not from the agricultural sector, and agricultural entrepreneurs, often the children of landowners, who, after returning from a training experience abroad, want to start an innovative agricultural project."

Training day on kaki canopy management at a Rojo Brillante planting in Azerbaijan

We asked Vitelli what crops these countries and foreign entrepreneurs are most interested in. "Crops of Mediterranean species are being the target of investments from a modern perspective. Particular interest is shown on citrus cultivation (orange, mandarin-like, lemon and grapefruit), nuts or dried fruits (such as almonds, pistachios and carob) and kaki lotus, especially to be destined for sun-drying. There is less interest, however, in classic intensive fruit growing (such as peach and apricot), which is often in the whirlwind of attention from breeders and nurserymen, in a constant and frantic chase for varietal renewal."

Some moments with entrepreneurs and technicians in Georgia

Among the main objectives of the groups of foreign investors and entrepreneurs, one can find the use of growing and management systems that will enable the introduction of high levels of mechanization, optimization of resource use, especially soil and water, rapid entry of plants into production, and respect for the environment and biodiversity.

Almond-growing days in North Macedonia

It seems that agronomist Vitelli had no difficulty standing out in these international arenas. "If you come from another country, you are often considered the bearer of novelty, and this facilitates the work of initiating collaborations with foreign operators, who, however, in any case, demand the utmost professionalism, expertise and tangible results in the immediate future."