Jueves 11 de septiembre

Eurocastanea - 15th European Chestnut Festival

Thursday, September 11 – Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park

8:30 - 9:30 am Accreditation.

9:30 – 10:00 am Opening of the Congress

Speech by the Minister of Sustainability and Environment of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Her Excellency Catalina García Carrasco
Speech by the President of the Provincial Council of Huelva, His Excellency Mr. David Toscano Contreras
Speech by the Business Unit Director of Caja Rural del Sur, Mr. Manuel Perez Barrera
Speech by the President of Eurocastanea, Mr. Bertrand Guerín
Welcome to the city of Aracena from its Mayor, Mr. Manuel Guerra González

10:00 - 10:30 am Opening Conference

“The value of environmental services derived from the chestnut ecosystem framework on CO2 markets” Fernando Rodriguez Lopez. University of Salamanca

Topic A. Andalusia, the chestnut tree in Southern Europe

10:30 - 11:00 am The Andalusian chestnut grove

The Malaga chestnut grove: future prospects. Francisco Boza, Head of the Chestnut Sector, COAG Andalucia (Spain)
The Huelva chestnut grove's future prospects, Arturo Martínez Ronda, President of Castañera Serrana, Andalusian Cooperative Society, Huelva (Spain)

11.00- 11.30 a.m. Coffee break.

Topic B. Current situation and prospects for the 2025 campaign in Europe.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. The European chestnut grove

Round table: The next European chestnut season, the situation of the crop in an environment of climate change.

12:30-12:45 pm Debate

Topic C: Processing and marketing of chestnuts

12:45 - 1:45 pm Relevant experiences in processing and marketing chestnuts.

How to add value to territories through chestnut management and processing. National and international experiences

Ensuring the Quality and Health of Chestnuts at Retail and Consumption. Giacomo Gatti, Laimburg Research Centre (Bolzano, Italy).
Chestnut Organic market trends: the importance of sustainability for consumers. Alvaro Barrera Fernández, President of Ecovalia (Spain)
Processing of local chestnuts: what tools to meet the needs of producers and the market? The example of the Ardèche department (France) Michel Grange – SNPC – SDCA (Syndicat de défense de la châtaigne d’Ardèche)
Rethinking the chestnut: A shared European strategy for growth and consumer positioning. Diana Cataldo and Massimo Iannaccone, Miriade & Partners

13:45-14:00 pm Debate

2:00 - 3:30 pm Lunch. (Tasting of products from the Natural Park brand)

15.30-16.30 p.m. Future prospects for chestnut production and marketing in Europe

Introductory presentation. European chestnut sector in the context of global market. José Gomes-Laranjo - University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro
Debate – dialogue/Round table:
Rocío Vazquez, Agrícola el Común SA
Alcinio Perez, Refcast - Associação Portuguesa da CastaRegia Douro Parka
National /international marketing company

16.30 – 17.00 p.m. Debate

17.00 - 19.30 p.m. Field visit.

Facilities of the Castañera Serrana SCA and the La Esperanza de Los Marines Cooperative.

Facilities of Castañera Serrana SCA.
Pilot farms of projects deployed in PNSAPA.
Farms with different local varieties (Plantalajar, Helechal, Comisaria, Vazquez) to appreciate and distinguish the tree and fruit diversity.
During the visits, live demonstrations: Machinery, craftsmanship.

8:30 pm Dinner (Restaurant el Camino, Almonaster la Real)