Ancona, 24 April 2024 – How many years of history characterize theolive tree, one of the most famous trees in the world which has always carried with it a particular charm. They will be the fruits of her, the olivesthe ideal food for an aperitif, or aItalian excellence like oil, or even the tradition and care with which it is cultivated. The latter is an opportunity every year for hundreds of enthusiasts from all over Italy to meet and debate.
In Deruta, in the province of Perugia, the nineteenth edition of the National Olive Tree Pruning Championship Golden Scissors, organized by Amap (Agency for innovation in the agri-food and fishing sector) and the Marche Region. An opportunity for agricultural enthusiasts and professionals to meet, discuss and take stock of the latest news regarding a pruning technique so delicate as to propose a competition between different participants, the polyconic vase.
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The winner was the Marche region Edoardo Dottori, 33 years old originally from Spontini maiolati (in the province of Ancona) which won the highest recognition. Triple satisfaction for the Marche, because the region also obtained the award as best young man (to Luca Mariotti of the Cecchi Agricultural Institute of Pesaro) and to best team.
Edoardo Dottori, 33 years old, from Maiolati Spontini, with the winner’s plaque
But what are the secrets to best pruning an olive tree? We talked about it with the winner of the edition Edoardo Dottori while he also explained to us the importance of events like this to guarantee the survival of an Italian cultural heritage (and not only).
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What was the experience of winning the National Olive Tree Pruning Championship?
“There is great satisfaction as a coach that I am, I am really happy and excited. I didn’t think I would succeed. This year the work was even more difficult: the participants had to carry out a particular reform work that is done only once in the life of the plant. We therefore had to make important and delicate choices. I’m happy because it means I worked well.”
How did the race go? What are the secrets of ‘winning’ pruning?
“The competition went like this: we had 3 plants to prune in 30 minutes, so 10 minutes per plant. The jury could then assign a score from 1 to 20 out of 60. I came first out of 70 competitors from all over Italy and selected on the basis of a CV, including technicians, farmers and arborists. I got a score of 48.9: a low score that usually does not allow victory. It was a tough championship. I’m 33 years old: I wasn’t the only young person among so many experts.”
What do you take away from this event?
“More than a competition, it was a moment of discussion between enthusiasts and professionals in the sector, with a focus on the polyconical vase, the only olive tree pruning system that allows quality and production to be reconciled, while maintaining economic costs. It was a golden opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the olive tree, which has been cultivated for centuries, and take stock of the state of the art and the latest innovations in pruning. This is why there are deliberately no prizes up for grabs but only a plaque. It’s the spirit of this competition.”
How can olive cultivation be maintained today?
“To safeguard this cultural heritage, safe pruning is needed, and the polyconic vase is the only possible system. Harvesting and pruning are the most important things in the plant. Last year we had a 40% reduction or semi-abandonment of olive trees: events such as the National Olive Tree Pruning Championship allow us to introduce this crop to our children and grandchildren, to pass down a tradition over time”.
