Xylella fastidiosa in Calabria: seven infected olive trees discovered in Taurianova, containment plan ready

In a region where the olive growing area exceeds 183,000 hectares, of which almost 30% is organically grown, second in size only to Puglia, Calabria, a land where the olive tree is an invaluable natural heritage and an identity symbol that has accompanied its history for centuries, is now trembling due to the spread of Xylella fastidiosa of the pauca subspecies. A containment plan is ready based on the model of the Puglia System, a region which, starting from 2013, was the first to deal with the olive tree desiccation syndrome with new phytosanitary policies and ad hoc prevention strategies. Over the years the bacterium has changed dynamics, in many areas it has been contained but not completely defeated.

Seven infected olive trees were identified in an agricultural area close to the urban center of Taurianova, in Contrada Olivetella, an internal area of the fertile Gioia Tauro plain in the province of Reggio Calabria, where oil production is close to 11 million litres, representing more than a third of the regional production, for an overall turnover - based on the data from the latest report of the Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of the Agricultural Economy - which stands at around 650 million euros.

The reactions were timely: the regional department of Agriculture, internal areas and territorial connection policies, following the technical and phytosanitary report by Arsac (Regional Company for the Development of Calabrian Agriculture), ascertained the presence of the bacterium. And it has just issued a decree to limit the infected area within a radius of 80 metres, extend the buffer area 2.5 km wide and plan eradication operations, with a view to safeguarding the regional olive heritage and the entire oil supply chain. All this was also notified to the owners.

«We would never have imagined such an attack from the south - explains Gianluca Gallo, regional councilor for Agriculture -. At most we feared the spread of the bacterium from the north, from the upper Ionian Sea of ​​Cosenza, and instead the first to be hit was an olive tree inside the courtyard of a private home in Taurianova. And six other trees from adjacent land. We moved quickly, taking advantage of the fact that vector insects don't move in summer. In the meantime we have structured the crisis unit involving Arsac, Crea, the forestry Carabinieri, the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria, the Mediterranean University and our department".

«At the moment we are confident, the problem does not represent damage to the economy of the territories affected, and moreover the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida has already guaranteed us compensation for replanting. Let's take advantage of what has already happened in Puglia – adds Gallo – and we are focusing on technological innovation to develop innovative systems capable of preventing the spread of the bacterium".