Displaying 1 - 15 of 15

EUROCASTANEA, the European Chestnut Network

Submitted by Roberto Rubio on 4 May 2020
Signature of constitution of Eurocastanea in Plasencia (Spain)

Eurocastanea is the consultation and representation body for professionals in the chestnut sector in the countries of the European Union, and in the European and world economy.

In addition, it

  • Organizes dialogue, consultation, study and joint action among its members, representing the chestnut sector to European or other institutions.
  • Contributes to the regeneration and promotion of the sector, organising the European "Eurocastanea" days and cooperation missions in the technical, scientific or economic area.

The Chestnut Round Table of El Bierzo: a different reference of sectoral concertation.

Submitted by Roberto Rubio on 30 April 2020
Meeting of Mesa del Castaño del Bierzo

The main objective of the Mesa del Castaño del Bierzo (Regional Chestnut Round Table) is to improve the economic performance of chestnut cultivation and the endurance of the chestnut tree as a characteristic natural, social and landscape element of the Bierzo region. The Round Table is also the coordination and representation body of the chestnut sector in the region.

Design and implementation of a new productive model around the chestnut tree as a rural development model in El Bierzo (Castile and Leon)

Submitted by Roberto Rubio on 9 January 2020
Professional chestnut pruning

The main objective was the structuring of the sectorial productive system in one of the main chestnut growing regions in Spain, El Bierzo (Castilla y León).  As secondary objectives: Improvement of the phytosanitary status of the chestnut groves. Quantitative and qualitative increase of the production, productivity and profitability. Creation of employment. Normalization of the productive activity. Creation of wealth and equitable distribution. Corporate social responsibility.

Pine nuts and chestnuts in your store - Mediterranean or imports from Eastern Asia?

Submitted by mutke@inia.es on 8 January 2020
Stone pine in Mediterranean landscape

At a first glance, imported Asiatic and genuine Mediterranean pine nuts seem to be similar in size, colour and aspect. Cheaper Chinese chestnuts can also be confused with European chestnuts, when botanic species and origin are not declared on the label, despite this information being mandatory by UNECE marketing standards (2013).

However, aspects such as nutritional values and processing quality, sustainability of collection from wild and of course the taste are highly important. Consumer awareness is vital in this regard. Hence , supply chain actors in the Mediterranean should work...

Mass multiplication of ink-resistant chestnut clones by photoautotrophic micropropagation

Submitted by Roberto Rubio on 9 January 2020
Nursery of Maceda - Tragsa (Ourense,Spain)

Chestnut ink disease, caused by root pathogens (Phytophthora sp. ),  induces dieback and mortality in sweet chestnut, C. sativa. Classical biological control can be efficient using ink resistance rootstocks that block the entrance of the fungus.

In this context, selected ink-resistant chestnut clones need to be propagated massively. Here, a method is presented for multplication and rooting clones under photoautotrophic conditions.

The chestnut gall wasp in the Portuguese region of Terra Fria Transmontana: Three years of biological control

Submitted by joanaap on 12 June 2020
Most recent biological control action, carried out by the Agro-Forestry Association ARBOREA in partnership with several regional entities (IPB / CNCFS, PRORURIS, CM Vinhais and Parish Councils) (1) Parasitoid packaging (2) Parasitoid release in affected chestnut (3) Torymus sinensis after release (ARBOREA)

The Dryocosmus kuriphilus insect, chestnut gall wasp, introduced in Portugal in 2014, represents a serious threat to the national production of chestnuts. Over the years, various pest outbreaks have been identified, which is currently present in much of the Terra Fria Transmontana region, with levels of severe infestation levels. The official reports state, “We are currently witnessing a large and rapid dispersion of the insect and the alarm of the populations, given the damage it is already causing, so, an intensification of the parasitoid releases for these regions should be...

Vigil’Encre: a citizen science project dedicated to the chestnut ink disease

Submitted by Haimad Baudrill... on 4 May 2020
Chestnut forest mortality due to Ink disease

The mobile app Vigil’Encre enables citizens to detect the chestnut ink disease (CID) - the most damaging disease for chestnut trees. Vigil’Encre applies a new approach to advance ecology, education and conservation, as it allows the public to participate in the tree health preservation.

Its broad functionality lets citizen scientists to diagnose the disease, characterize pathogens, describe their biology and in this way to actively take part in the sustainable crop protection.

Pooling and joinin together in order to develop economically and preserve the local know-how

Submitted by Haimad Baudrill... on 20 May 2020
Chesnuts harvest by a "Castane" economic group associate

The objective of this economic experience is to bring value to all the local chestnuts production in order to keep the maximum added value of the products at the producer/processor level, preserving local transformation know-how in order to ensure high quality products.

To do it, the idea of this experience is that producers pool the transformation process and join together in order to enter more important markets. 

Biocastanea - Leading International Fair on Chestnut

Submitted by Roberto Rubio on 9 January 2020
Biocastanea

The main objective of Biocastanea is the sustainability of chestnut orchards as a natural, cultural, economic and landscape element, through the transfer of technical and scientific knowledge to the productive sector. Furthermore, it aims to make chestnut growing one of the main pillars of sustainable development. To generate debate, analysis and exchange of new proposals for the development of the sector. To maintain the relationship between culture-biodiversity and economy present in the chestnut tree.

Evaluation of susceptibility to Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Castanea sativa and in hybrid cultivars

Submitted by Roberto Rubio on 9 January 2020
Dryocosmus kuriphilus - chestnut gallwasp

The aim is to determine different levels of sensitivity of different cultivars to the  chestnut gall wasp. Among the cultivars that have been evaluated are interspecific hybrids and traditional European cultivars.

Potential chestnut map in Castile and Leon

Submitted by Roberto Rubio on 29 June 2020
Working the results of the model with farmers, El Bierzo (León)

The main objective is to know the potential distribution of chestnut (Castanea sativa) in Castile and Leon through the use of spatial modelling tools based on 13 different variables. The aim has been to determine where the bioclimatic and geographical conditions are most suitable for the species to prosper. These models allow to evaluate in a quantitative way the possibility that a chestnut population occupies a specific area.

The carob tree in Tunisia: A big varietal richness to preserve and to valorize

Submitted by ibtissem taghouti on 23 December 2019
Spontaneous, aged carob tree pruned and grafted at Oueslatia

In addition to their traditional local use in human and animal food, the fruits of the carob tree have a high commercial value in industrial transformation. The demand for fruits and seeds is growing significantly and their commercial value is increasing. It is also an undemanding species, since it is found in various bioclimatic levels (humid, subhumid, semi-arid and arid) and on poor and skeletal soils. The objective of this work is to explore a panel of varieties to be characterized by describing the tree, fruits, and seeds in an illustrated form.

Pietra : a brand success that brings Corsican identity

Submitted by Haimad Baudrill... on 8 June 2020
Pietra brewery

The objective of the project was to create a Corsican beer that could be recognised by fine beer lovers, a high-end product that is also thirst-quenching in order to adapt to the Mediterranean climate. This beer had to be with character and to be brewed with a mixture of malt and Corsican chestnut flour, insular raw material. To do this, a brewery had to be built in Corsica and had to reach 10,000 hectolitres of production capacity.