From the world of social media there is an avalanche of consensus for the bill to establish the figure of theolive grower who is not a direct cultivator or agricultural entrepreneur. A proposal presented by a group of regional councilors of Veneto, first signature Alberto Bozza, which addresses a problem that is particularly felt by those who, out of passion, family tradition or respect for the environment, take care of olive groves for production often intended for self-consumption and who in life carry out a completely different profession or are perhaps retired.
The proposed law, as is known, aims to provide support tools to these subjects, encouraging the sustainable management of olive groves and the recovery of abandoned ones. Among the measures envisaged, there could be tax breaks, incentives for the maintenance and enhancement of olive groves, as well as access to dedicated public tenders to the conservation of the olive-growing heritage.
The approval by the relevant Regional Council will allow for bring the proposal to Parliament for the desired legislative process that will follow. As mentioned, there are many positive reactions that follow one another on social media and that confirm an objective fact: there is a good part of national olive growing that is conducted in a "hobbyist" manner, assigning the utmost respect to this term. Because There is a lot behind the care of an olive grove: the protection of a territory, the fight against widespread abandonment, the prevention of hydrogeological risks, environmental and landscape protection and, last but not least, the anchoring to authentic values that hark back to the best traditions of our country.
Here's why it is a bill that deserves to be supported by the entire olive oil sector, including trade associations although, by definition, they protect the professional part of the sector. Which is regularly being recorded. Here are the first interventions.
Here Unapol
“Even though I don't know the details of the bill – intervenes Tommaso Loiodice, president of Unapol, the National Union of Olive Producers - the proposal is certainly worthy of attention, since it goes in the right direction of recognizing a role of fundamental importance for the maintenance and protection of the Italian landscape and olive heritage, contributing to the reduction of the risk of seeing an ever-increasing number of abandoned or at-risk-of-abandonment olive groves, as well as clarifying once and for all the qualifications of these “professional” figures who often fall into the grip of INPS mathematical calculations. However, we must be careful not to confuse this type of olive growing that I would define as “hobbyist” and which in most cases produces oil for family consumption, with that which represents income-generating olive growing and which guarantees the release of oil onto the market for commercialization. For this type of olive growing that attracts the attention of small producers, it is necessary to find additional resources to those that the sector currently benefits from and which are already insufficient in themselves. In my humble opinion, the bill must in any case encourage the instrument of cooperation and aggregation of these small producers to have a long-term vision that aims to have more and more structured and profitable realities. Let's not forget that what Italian olive growing expresses is transversal to the ministries of Environment, Health, Tourism, Made in Italy and Culture and each for its part should allocate adequate resources to the sustenance of the sector".
Here Aipo
He thinks the same way Albino Pezzini, president of Aipo, the inter-regional association of olive producers, who observes. “Aipo strongly supports this legislative initiative, considering it a fundamental step towards the valorization of the Italian olive heritage. Recognizing the role of the olive grower who is not a direct cultivator or agricultural entrepreneur is essential to protect our olive groves, preserve the landscape and safeguard a sector that represents an economic, cultural and environmental pillar of our country.
The bill promoted by regional councilors Bozza, Venturini and Boron addresses a regulatory gap, guaranteeing support and dignity to those who, out of passion, family tradition or environmental sensitivity, are committed to caring for olive groves. With over 1,1 million hectares cultivated and more than 600 thousand companies involved, it is essential to combat the abandonment of these precious lands and promote sustainable management, also through tax breaks and targeted incentives.
Aipo believes that this recognition could represent a turning point for Italian olive growing, promoting a balance between tradition and innovation, and consolidating the link between community, territory and environment. We express our full support for the Veneto Region and Parliament to accept this proposal, transforming it into concrete measures for the future of the sector”.
