Two intense days of technique, culture and tastings animated the village of Smerillo (Fm), in the heart of the Sibillini, on the occasion of the 22nd National Exhibition of Monovarietal Oils, promoted by AMAP – Agency for Innovation in the Agri-food and Fisheries Sector of the Marche Region.
An event that put the focus Italian olive biodiversity, enhancing the native varieties and the landscapes that preserve them. Leading the technical part, Barbara Alfei, AMAP panel leader, supported by the researcher Massimiliano Magli (CNR-IBE), who presented a Update on the database of Italian monovarietal oils and on the scientific value of these data for monitor climate change.
“The Review – underlined the Alphei - represents a privileged observatory for evaluating and analyzing the climate changes in progress, which increasingly involve some qualitative characteristics of oils. The numerous and constant statistical elaborations carried out, demonstrate that we are increasingly witnessing an effect of the vintage, in particular on the composition of fatty acids, therefore also on the nutritional and health parameters of oils. In particular, high temperatures lead to a reduction in the content of oleic acid, while palmitic and linoleic acid increase. With drought, the content of total polyphenols tends to increase, while volatile compounds are reduced. Even if excessive drought, in the absence of irrigation, can lead to the defect of dry hay, especially in the case of early harvest.
In any case, the high number of samples for each variety, and above all the constant presence over the years of samples of the same varieties, as well as new ones that are gradually added, is a great strength of the Review. The basis of the entire study is the knowledge of the potential expressed by the rich heritage of biodiversity, to best manage the agronomic and technological variables in function of the climate changes in progress, in order to maintain a high level of quality of the oils”.
Among the most engaging moments of the Review, it is worth mentioning the 16th edition of the team game “Guess the variety”, won by Paola Paciarotti, Luca Gigli and Simone Fattobene, three young tasters trained in the AMAP courses, who recognised all eight varieties tasted.
During the Review the following were delivered: Special Awards 2025. Among the most represented varieties with the highest scores:
Coratina – The Three Columns by Salvatore Stallone and Ortoplant by Depalo Michele (Giovinazzo, BA)
Leccino – F.lli Mosci snc (San Marcello, AN)
Itrana – Alfred Cetrone (Sonnino, LT) and Silvae by Silvia Ialongo (Itri, LT).
Many certificates of excellence for varieties such as Crognalegna, Intosso, Casaliva, Cerasuola, Lazzaro, Maurino, Leccio del Corno, Sant'Agostino.
