Maintain a decent commercial value of extra virgin olive oil, create a closer dialogue with the world of research, give substance to the inter-profession between all the players in the supply chain.
The speech revolves around these three points president of Unapol, Thomas Loiodice, who spoke at the General States of olive growing, I take part in the table of the PO Associations on the topic: Aggregation as a driving force for development.
As president of one of the three Unions recognized by the Ministry, “I feel the duty to protect and defend the richness of Italian olive biodiversity which gives added value to the excellent quality of our oil. Personally, I believe it is necessary that in this context the need to maintain a decent commercial value of extra virgin olive oil is reiterated, a product that in addition to being good is also good for your health".
In his speech, President Loiodice then added: “The Ops have the need and obligation to reward their associated producers by placing the product on the market trying to attribute the right and dignified value to it. When talking about OPs, we cannot fail to take into account two main players in the supply chain: producers and processors. The Ops represent an essential component of the olive oil supply chain, a supply chain that must work in a compact and univocal manner to enhance the extra virgin olive oil product and in which each actor must play the right role and make their contribution responsibly".
Loiodice then underlined the importance of starting a discussion with the university and research world: “For a long time the world of production was distant from the world of research and universities; in recent years, also thanks to the work of the AOPs, we are starting this close collaborative relationship which helps us to grow and solve a series of problems that have also been highlighted here, such as the challenges to plant diseases, the Xylella problem in Puglia which has destroyed an entire territory, that of Salento, and which is not sparing two other strategic provinces, those of Brindisi and Taranto with the real risk that this threat will approach the north of Bari".
Still remaining within the scope of research, Loiodice reiterated: “Another important point is the need to have qualified manpower, today in the fields we work with drones, modern farmers are no longer farmers with a hoe and a plow. Here the need to dialogue with the university world and training bodies emerges again, and the Ops can offer a great service in acting as intermediate actors in this process".
Finally, a strong call for unity for the good of the entire olive oil supply chain. The Ops – concluded Loiodice – they also have the fundamental task of increasing that sense of belonging to a strategic supply chain, in which the feeling of being an active part of a 'family' which brings benefits to the entire community must be the glue. I hope that the National Olive Plan being discussed in these hours can give rise to a spirit of discussion and at the same time, increases the perception of being part of a single family, the olive family, to enhance this incredible product which is extra oil virgin olive. In this scenario, a single interprofession must play a decisive and essential role, which must have contractual strength, which speaks with a single voice denouncing the problems of the sector and projecting it towards growth and development prospects. Sometimes it is necessary to take one step back to take two steps forward, in the world of the olive supply chain it is necessary to put aside self-referentiality in favor of our olive growers, so that they can always be protected in the best way. Therefore yes to a unique Italian inter-profession and to a National Olive Growing Plan worthy of the name".
