According to the latest census of the Ministry of Agriculture (MASAF ex MIPAAF), in Italy there are well-known 737 varieties of olive trees. Considering that there are approximately 2.700 of them worldwide, Our country holds approximately 30% of the global olive oil heritage. A fact that perhaps will not strike everyone, but which in reality has an extraordinary value.
Precisely for this reason it is essential to focus on local varieties. It is clear that such a strategic sector must also generate significant numbers: for this reason the intensification of plants, specialized mechanization and modern irrigation systems are essential tools. In this sense, the National Olive Oil Plan represents a key support to accompany producers towards modernization, making Italian olive growing more competitive compared to other leading production areas.
However, if on the one hand the native cultivars do not always guarantee high yields, on the other hand they represent a qualitative richness often appreciated at an international level. Is it really worth letting them fall into varietal oblivion? Are we sure we know the agronomic and qualitative characteristics of our 737 varieties in depth?
And what if they weren't all? Thanks to genotyping projects conducted by research institutions, individuals that do not correspond to any known genetic profile are constantly emerging. Further evidence of how vast and precious Italian olive biodiversity is. Its protection and enhancement are not only a right, but a duty.
Innovate, yes, but without forgetting the history and olive-growing vocation of our country. Biodiversity is a formidable defense against pathogens: genetic variability is a strategic resource for addressing the health challenges of olive growing. The teachings of agronomy remind us of the value of agronomic control, or the use of the natural genetic resistance of a variety to combat specific diseases. Let's not forget the foundations!
Virtuous examples of valorization of native varieties:
• Taggiasca (Liguria) – Symbol of the Ligurian Riviera, known for its table olives and a delicate, fruity oil, also appreciated abroad.
• Grignano (Veneto) – Valued in the Lessini Mountains and in the Verona area, it produces a fragrant and harmonious oil.
• Moraiolo (Umbria and Tuscany) – Among the most representative of Central Italy, it produces oils with a strong flavour, with bitter and spicy notes.
• Raggiola (Marche) – Native to the province of Pesaro and Urbino, recently rediscovered for its sensory qualities.
• Pennulara (Calabria) – Typical of the upper Ionian coast of Crotone, in municipalities such as Caccuri and Castelsilano. In recent years it has been revalued for its unique qualities.
• Filogaso Round (Calabria) – Originating from the municipality of the same name in the province of Vibo Valentia. In 2024 the first monovarietal was produced (Elitè brand), already awarded in national contexts such as Bibenda within the event “Oli Estremi – A journey between Mountains, Sea and Nature”.
• Casaliva (Trentino/Lombardy) – Symbolic cultivar of Lake Garda, especially on the Trentino and Brescia shores, a fundamental part of the Garda DOP.
• Tonda Iblea (Sicily) – Coming from the Iblei Mountains (Ragusa and Syracuse), it is known for an oil with a herbaceous scent and hints of green tomato.
And these are just a few examples: the Italian varietal panorama is still largely to be discovered, and represents an enormous potential to strengthen the value of Made in Italy, also in the oil sector.
Among the activities to be carried out for the valorization of native varieties:
• Inclusion in DOP/IGP specifications
• Participation in international competitions
• Biodiversity and genetic conservation projects
• Collaborations with Slow Food Presidia
• Territorial marketing and olive oil tourism activities
Italian olive growing it's not just agricultural production: it is culture, identity and biodiversity. Minor varieties, often forgotten or undervalued, represent an invaluable genetic and cultural capital that deserves attention, study and investment. In an increasingly standardized agricultural world, knowing how to enhance diversity is not a nostalgic choice, but a far-sighted strategy.
Be guardians of taste It means protecting the roots, but also knowing how to reinterpret them in a contemporary way: with the help of research, innovation and territorial storytelling, we can transform every native cultivar into an ambassador of Italian excellence.
Only in this way will we be able to continue producing not only oil, but stories, landscapes and values to export to the world. And above all, to pass on to future generations.
