Calabria is there first region of Italy to start investments with Pnrr resources intended for the modernization of oil mills. This is confirmed by the publication on the institutional portal, already in recent days, of the final ranking of the tender (published at the end of 2023) aimed at support the olive supply chainwhich due to its identity vocation and economic and environmental value has always been essential for the growth of the region: Calabrian olive growing, characterized by presence of more than 100 different cultivated varieties on over 24% of the total agricultural surface used, it constitutes a treasure of biodiversity, enriched by PDO and PGI, with 70 thousand hectares of organic crops and a production that makes Calabria the second most productive region in the country, thanks to the approximately 700 oil mills operating in the area.
“In our land, olive growing represents a piece of historybut also an engine of economic, environmental and cultural development to be supported and indeed strengthened, for promote quality and competitiveness through measures that allow the protection and expansion of the sector” underlines the regional councilor for agriculture, Gianluca Gallo.
Hence the choice of also use the resources made available by the Pnrrequal to 16 million, 567 thousand and 725 euros, to increase the sustainability of the production process with the introduction of machinery and technologies capable of improve environmental performance of the extra virgin olive oil extraction activity, as well as reduce waste generation and encourage its reuse for energy purposes. Also worth mentioning is the obligation to follow training courses on the subject of production and tasting of Evo oils.
Following the definition of the rankings, the agriculture department has the notification procedure has already been started to the beneficiaries, in relation to the projects admitted and financed. To also guarantee funding for requests deemed worthy but lacking – at the moment – coverage, the Region was activated to intercept additional resources.
“We already have formally requested another 5 millionimmediately obtaining 1. For the other 4, which would allow the realization of all the positively evaluated projects, there are concrete possibilities of being able to receive them, as emerged from the official discussions. We are confident and we will continue to work for the protection and the growth of Calabrian olive growing” states Gallo in conclusion.
