The Organisation, innovation and ethics convention (Organizzazione, innovazione ed etica: la proposta di Aop Armonia per l'agrumicoltura del futuro) was held on 30th September in the Castello Ducale in Corigliano Calabro. The event was organised by AOP Armonia, a producer organisation based in southern Italy.
The speakers' table. Left to right: Mauro D'Acri (councillor for agriculture of the Calabria region), Maurizio Nasato (Gruppo Pam), Antonio Bene (AOP Armonia), Gerardo Mario Oliverio (President of Regione Calabria), Marco Eleuteri (AOP Armonia), Francesco Perri (citrus scientist specialist) and Lorenzo Frassoldati (Director of Corriere Ortofrutticolo and moderator).
"Our PO has a turnover of around €30 million. 65% derives from fruit, 25% from vegetables and 10% from organic produce. Of the twenty million turnover deriving from fruit, 29% is represented by clementines and 4% by oranges (mainly from Calabria) for a total of 600 tons and €7-8 million," explains Armonia General Director, Antonio Bene. 60% of the association's turnover derives from retailers, 25% is made abroad, 10% is from organic produce (mainly Germany) and the traditional market is worth only 5%.
"All of this is possible because Armonia is not based on mere trade, but on their relationships with producers. Only those who really know a product can add value to it. We work with 9 facilities - 5 in Campania, 2 in Calabria, 1 in Puglia and 1 in Marche."
AOP Armonia's General Director Antonio Bene during his presentation.
Bene also stressed the importance of a managerial organisation for modern businesses. Only those with a competent professional management can tackle the challenges posed by the international citrus fruit market.
"The economic crisis is an occasion to prove if we can do our job. We are businessmen living in the 21st century. At Armonia, we have worked together and analysed the market. We checked our production costs and monitored the services we provide to clients. What we found is that we need to be more transparent in our relations, because we tend to be distrustful in the south. To create an atmosphere of trust, we have implemented an account certification, approved a budget and we guarantee timely payments."
AOP Armonia's mission is to work as a team to supply produce.
The audience at the convention.
AOP Sales Manager Marco Eleuteri (in the photo) talked instead about the importance of innovation and research for those companies looking to diversify their supply. Doing so would enable them to strengthen their position on the domestic market and attract international clients.
"Citrus fruit production in the Mediterranean has grown by 15% in the past decade but, over the same period, Italy lost 40% of its production. In addition, Spain has become a strong clementine producer."
Citrus scientist specialist and AOP Armonia consultant, Francesco Perri, explained how scientific research has been focusing on the genetic improvement and varietal innovation of clementines.
The objective of genetic improvement and of cultivation model rationalisation, is to raise the value of the produce while pushing down costs and increasing the respect for the environment. In order to raise the value, we need productive orchards, fruit of the right grade with a good colour and internal quality, as well as a prolonged harvesting calendar. Lower production costs can be achieved, saving on labour, mechanical means, water, fertilisers and crop protection products.
Perri also presented the new Sanzo clementine variety, which he selected in cooperation with CREA-ACM. "We are defining a protocol with AOP Armonia in order to regulate its production and distribution."
The genetic improvement programme, to obtain tangerine-like hybrids, was also discussed. It is the first of its kind and stemmed from the cooperation between a public research institute (Crea in Acireale) and a private company, (AOP Armonia).
The audience at the event.
The cooperation between CREA-ACM in Acireale and AOP Armonia has the following objectives:
- genetic improvement through irradiation and crossbreeds;
- rehablitation through micro-grafts;
- identification of molecular markers, specific to the Sanzo variety, through the re-sequencing of the genome for the isolation of SNP and INDEL markers.
A dinner was held at the end of the convention prepared by a few young chefs from Calabria.
For further information:
AOP Armonia
Soc. Agr. Consortile a R.L.
via Strauss, 38
84091 Battipaglia (SA)
Tel.: +39 (0)828 1818602
Fax: +39 (0)828 1818124
Email: info@aoparmonia.it
Web: www.aoparmonia.it
AOP Armonia
Soc. Agr. Consortile a R.L.
via Strauss, 38
84091 Battipaglia (SA)
Tel.: +39 (0)828 1818602
Fax: +39 (0)828 1818124
Email: info@aoparmonia.it
Web: www.aoparmonia.it