Il settore dell’olivicoltura da tavola in Italia: Situazione e prospettive

Table olive Industry in Italy The Italian table olive industry is almost completely located in the southern regions: Sicily and Apulia together account for about two thirds of the entire national production. “Nocellara del Belice”, “Nocellara etnea”, “Bella di Cerignola”, “Ascolana” and “Itrana” are the leading cultivars, together with a large number of other local traditional varieties, often utilised for a double purpose (table olives and oil production). Although Italy is nowadays largely dependent (more than 50%) on importations from other countries (mainly Spain, Greece and Morocco) the domestic production has been declining in the last thirty years and currently accounts for about 2-3% of the total world production, whereas it was about 10% of world production in 1980-85. Nevertheless, some interesting examples of specialised production systems are still present in many areas, including those where of the four Protected Designation Origin (DOP) table olives are grown (“Nocellara del Belice” in Sicily, “Bella di Cerignola” in Apulia, Itrana in Latium, and Ascolana in Marche). Besides an overall picture of the Italian cultivars, the advantages and the opportunities offered by the application of specialised cultural techniques are discussed, with special emphasis on the positive role of a more appropriate and wide diffusion of irrigation (including RDI) and chemical fruit thinning. The potential of fertilization, pruning and pest and disease control, are also reviewed with reference to the possible role in fruit quality enhancement together with the needs for further development of the entire table olive industry and innovations involved