27 August – Sustainable Development in Nut Production: Integrating Tradition and Innovation in Campania
Route Map of the Technical Tours
Padula Farm – Altavilla Silentina (Salerno): visit to pistachio orchards
Tenuta Vannulo – Capaccio Paestum (Salerno)
Tenuta Vannulo covers one hundred and fifty hectares of land dedicated to organic arable crops and is self-sufficient in fodder production for the six hundred buffalo – three hundred of which are milk buffalo – that make up the core of the farm, its production, and activities. Lunch offered by Ferryplastic Srl.
Visit to Tonda di Giffoni hazelnut orchards in the PDO area and to Sirignano Srl – Giffoni Valle Piana (Salerno)
Italian food company specialized in dried fruit, founded on a strong family tradition, the company has earned a solid entrepreneurial reputation built on passion, enthusiasm, and continuous innovation, ensuring the highest standards of quality. In addition, the company has recently expanded its international collaborations in network, bringing its products to a global market. Coffe break offered by Sirignano Srl
Back to Hotel in Napoli
28 August – South to North: Bridging Distances, Sharing Ideas
Transfer from Napoli to Alba
Azienda Agricola Maccarese – Fiumicino (Roma)
Maccarese S.p.A., spanning 3,200 contiguous hectares, stands as one of Italy’s largest and most significant agricultural enterprises. Of this area, 2,400 hectares are dedicated to cereals, protein crops, forage, and vegetables, while a recently established 120-hectare super-intensive almond orchard positions the company as a national leader in almond cultivation. Nearly the entire estate is irrigated using diverse, advanced irrigation systems. The company’s commitment to sustainability and safety is underscored by its ISO 14001 environmental certification (2008) and ISO 45001 certification for Health and Safety Management (2019), making Maccarese the only livestock center in Italy to hold such recognition. Furthermore, the premises of the former mill, adjacent to the local railway station, host the global headquarters of BIOVERSITY, a leading FAO-affiliated agro-bio-food research institute, alongside laboratories of two Italian Breeders Association (AIA) divisions.
Service stops at petrol stations
Arrival in Alba in the evening
29 August – Langhe in a Nutshell: A Hazelnut Experience
Route Map of the Technical Tours
Ferrero Company – Alba (Cuneo)
The Ferrero family was the first Italian company in the confectionery sector to open production facilities and offices abroad after World War II, transforming the company into a truly international player. Its international expansion began in earnest in 1956 with the opening of a large factory in Germany. Shortly thereafter, Ferrero’s second international site opened in France, and from there its growth was rapid. Ferrero now has a presence that extends across Europe, North and South America, Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
Lunch at Il Faro Restaurant in Rodello (CN)
Visit to La Corylicola farm – Tre Cunei ad Arguello (CN)
La Corylicola is a farm dedicated to the cultivation of Tonda Gentile Trilobata (syn. Tonda Gentile delle Langhe) hazelnuts, located in the Alta Langa hills – an area renowned for its centuries-old hazelnut-growing tradition. Spanning 20 hectares of prime land at 700 meters above sea level, the farm benefits from ideal agro-climatic conditions, with a cool, dry climate enhanced by breezes from the Ligurian Sea. Embracing this heritage while looking toward modern markets, Corylicola follows a careful agronomic philosophy, where every decision is made with full respect for the hazelnut tree’s specific needs, ensuring exceptional quality and sustainability in every harvest.
Back to Alba
30 August – In the Shade of Chestnut Trees: Exploring Piedmont’s Castaniculture
Route Map of the Technical Tours
Centro Regionale di Castanicoltura del Piemonte – Chiusa di Pesio (CN)
The video “Castanetum at 360°: history and research”, the sixth of the series of technical tutorials “Chestnut: technical training”, is online. The series is produced by the Chestnut R&D Center – Piemonte with the aim of supporting the renewed interest in chestnut with technical and practical information.
Lunch at the Trattoria La Posta in Peveragno
Visit to chestnut orchards
The chestnut groves of Piedmont are a symbol of resilience, tradition, and biodiversity. Nestled in the region’s hills and mountain valleys, these centuries-old woodlands have shaped rural life, providing food, fuel, and cultural identity. Once known as the ‘bread of the poor,’ chestnuts remain a treasured ingredient in Piedmontese cuisine and a key part of its agroforestry heritage.
Back to Alba
