Eurocastanea
What is Eurocastanea?
EUROCASTANEA is the European Chestnut Network and aims to promote dialogue, cooperation and joint actions between the actors of the European chestnut industry. Specifically, it has the following objectives:
- To represent, defend and promote the common interests of the European chestnut industry;
- Contribute to the development of the European chestnut grove;
- Work to promote the consumption of European chestnuts;
The Chestnut State Network has been part of Eurocastanea since its foundation and the Andalusian Chestnut Platform is represented in it, among other representative organisations of the chestnut sector in Spain such as: Proagrosilga, the Chestnut Round Table of Bierzo or the Chestnut Round Table of Extremadura.
Chestnut cultivation contributes elements of identity to the rural areas that have embraced and nurtured it. The knowledge and wisdom of men and women have left behind traces that deserve to be valued, such as craftsmanship, customs and traditions, festivals, and gastronomy. The “apañaoras” represent a feminine universe that enriches the chestnut grove, and the landscape offers a palette of colors enjoyed through tourism and leisure. All of this deserves to be recognized and supported by both institutions and society.
A strategy to relaunch the European sector
Axis 1: halting the decline of the European chestnut grove.
The sector's main objective is to provide the means to quickly reverse the downward trend in European chestnut production, in order to recover the production level of the 1960s (400,000 tons) through energetic, proactive, and coordinated action among the EUROCASTANEA countries. The European chestnut market is severely deficient; demand for chestnuts is extremely high, both for fresh and processed products, yet production does not meet this demand. To maintain the production level of the year 2000, professionals are convinced of the importance of implementing, in a deliberate and concerted manner, a planting program of 40,000 hectares over the next 10 years.
This requires:
– A collective professional and interprofessional dynamic in chestnut-producing countries.
– Strong support from national and regional public authorities to design financial policies to support new investments in plantations and other levels of the sector.
– Renew chestnut orchards with regional and national planting programs.
– Support for planting programs for new orchards of hybrid and traditional varieties.
– Support grafting programs.
– Relaunching genetic improvement programs for varieties and rootstocks.
– Assist in the renovation of old traditional gardens: weeding, pruning, replanting, etc.
– Develop second-pillar measures through agri-environmental measures (AEM) tailored to chestnut groves (by country or region) to offset the natural disadvantage of this production, whose contribution to environmental preservation is undeniable.
Axis 2: improve the health of the orchards
The objective: to produce quality fruit.
European production is severely impacted by the persistence of fungal diseases and pests for which there is no effective control method. These are the main challenges facing the entire European chestnut sector:
The fight against diseases and pests, in particular the following:
– The gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphillus): It is necessary to continue working on its control (through biological control with the introduction of Torymus sinensis, through monitoring varietal sensitivities, and also through monitoring its evolution, both as a pest and as a parasitoid).
– Fruit rot and worms: It is important to emphasize research and control efforts to improve orchard health. The goal is to limit losses from twisted fruit (caused by Cydia sp. and Curculio elephas) or fruit affected by rot (particularly due to Gnomoniopsis castanea), which can damage 30 to 40% of production each year.
– Phytophtora root rot (PRR) (due to Phytophthora sp.) which causes the death of numerous trees and is developing rapidly.
– Bark blight disease (caused by Chryphonectrya parasitica), which causes severe lesions on the bark of branches.
Expand research, particularly on the following points:
– Varieties and rootstocks with greater disease tolerance, the different soil and climate conditions of the producing regions, especially under water stress, in a context of global warming, which is even more pronounced under the Mediterranean climate, and adapted to market demand.
– Environmentally friendly technical production.
– Harvesting techniques that guarantee optimal quality.
– Storage techniques that preserve the quality of the fruit.
Axis 3: creating added value
The goal: to innovate, to seek out new products and new, environmentally friendly packaging, and to develop a range of processed agricultural and industrial products.
Observation of Asian markets clearly shows that the range of processed products can be very broad and include products with high added value for both the producer and the processor. The opportunities for progress through innovation are numerous, and include:
– Innovations in products and packaging
– Tangible and intangible investments
- Education
– Identify the productions of European regions by their quality labels
Consumer demand for certified quality and locally sourced products is very strong.
Chestnuts have an advantage: they are a product strongly linked to their origins, with an identity and a traditional and natural image. Many European chestnut-producing regions have implemented quality labels such as PGI and PDO. The low production volumes of chestnuts mean an equally small impact at the EU level. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the visibility and awareness of these products through communication and promotional actions.
Strengthen the organization of the sector.
National and regional interprofessional Producer Organizations are the foundation of any strategy to renew and revitalize the European sector. They are the key players in our European Chestnut Network, EUROCASTANEA, and enable ongoing and fruitful exchanges of experiences and best practices. In this context, one example of concerted action was the development of biological control against the chestnut gall wasp. It helped to rapidly halt the spread of the disease.
Axis 4: develop consumption
Objective: to increase the consumption of chestnuts in all their forms.
Communication to distributors and consumers.
Two main points can be suggested:
– Add value to the fruit. The primary function of the chestnut grove is to produce fruit for human consumption. The European chestnut has significant assets that should be highlighted through a communication policy tailored to consumers and professionals in the agri-food sector.
– Promotion of chestnut groves and their socioeconomic impact in fragile rural areas: Information and awareness-raising activities should be carried out on the heritage of chestnut groves. Their tourist value and positive impact on the landscape and biodiversity must be disseminated.
Axis 5: Recognition of chestnut groves in European policies
Chestnut groves must continue to be considered by both pillars (direct aid and rural development of the future common agricultural policy): The European Union Structural Funds:
– The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): strengthening economic and social cohesion within the European Union by correcting regional imbalances. The territories where most chestnut groves are located are in areas with significant natural geographical disadvantages (isolated rural areas, mountains, or sparsely populated regions).
– The European Social Fund (ESF): to support projects promoting employment.