After weeks of stalemate, the first concrete signals on the implementation of the PNRR call for the modernization of oil mills. The Agency for Agricultural Payments (AGEA) has issued the first payment decree which finally grants the contributions foreseen by the call, It involves 17 beneficiaries for a total amount of just under 1,5 million euros.
In particular, they were funded 7 crushers in Puglia for about 860 thousand euros and 10 in Campania for 617 thousand euros. Added to this is a further positive signal from the Calabria Region, that - as anticipated by OlivoNews – in the last few weeks it has arranged the payment of a first tranche of 3 million euro, out of a total of 16 assigned to those entitled to it.
"This is an important step - ha commented the president of AIFO – Italian Association of Olive Oil Mills, Elia Pellegrino – che is going in the direction we hoped for during the meeting held last month with Undersecretary Patrizio La Pietra. After months of uncertainty, the first funds are finally starting to reach the millers. This is proof that dialogue between institutions and sector representatives can produce concrete results".
The call, financed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan with a initial endowment of 100 million euros, has attracted strong interest from Italian olive oil companies. They have been presented projects for almost 300 million eurosor with requests for contributions that have reached 180 million, 80 more than the available resources. This sum is that the Undersecretary La Pietra – as he declared to OlivoNews – intends to find as soon as possible to finance all the applications on the ranking list.
"Our sector has responded in a united and proactive manner - added Pilgrim - demonstrating a great desire to invest and innovate. But precisely for this reason it is essential that all Regions now proceed quickly with the investigations and payments. Any delay can compromise the possibility of respecting the deadlines imposed by the PNRR".
According to AIFO, even during the meeting with the association, Undersecretary La Pietra had confirmed his commitment to finding additional resources to finance the projects that had initially remained outside the rankings.
"We thank Undersecretary La Pietra and all the regional councilors who are collaborating – he concluded Pilgrim - but we must arrive at the beginning of the new olive oil campaign with the machinery already installed, if we really want to respect the deadline of January 31, 2026 set by the timetable of the tender. Every day gained today is one less problem tomorrow".
AIFO says it is ready to continue the institutional dialogue, closely monitoring future developments and supporting companies in the sector in making full use of this unique opportunity.
