Age: 1 year
Plants 1 new Olive tree
CO2 absorbed: 150 kg/year
Evo oil included:
INTRODUCTION: What is Xylella?
Xylella Fastidiosa, commonly known as Xylella, is a bacterium that spreads in the plant’s lymphatic vessels, which are the vessels responsible for supplying water and mineral salts.
How does this bacterium act in plants?
It creates a dense gelatinous mucilage that clogs the vessels, preventing sap and other nutrients from flowing into the plant’s lymph vessels, which are critical for hydration of the leaf canopy.
It is possible to state that the main consequence of the attack of this bacterium on olive trees is precisely their desiccation (a phenomenon also known as CoDiRo: COmplesso DIsseccamento Rapidodell’Olivo). This phenomenon has mainly affected several centuries-old olive trees found in Southern Italy, causing damage to the country’s historical heritage as well as economic and landscape heritage. In fact, by blocking the passage of nutrients, the bacterium causes the death of the plant.
This bacterium is spread by an insect called a “spittlebug”; its name comes from the fact that it produces a foam in which it lives, protects itself from evaporation, and hides.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
It appears that this bacterium was imported from Central America to Europe, from Costa Rica to Salento, via ornamental plants and coffee plants.
The first presence of Xylella in Apulia, particularly in Gallipoli, was detected about 10 years ago, but that was only the beginning.
The second wave occurred in 2015, affecting crops in the provinces of Lecce and Brindisi.
To date, Xylella has reached Fasano and is advancing almost 2 kilometers per month.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF XYLELLA
Affecting about fifteen varieties of plants, the olive tree is suffering the most disastrous consequences.
There was a 73 percent collapse in olive production in 2018, leading to a reduction in oil production. In particular, Apulia, which alone managed to achieve about a third of national olive oil production, was affected by the devastating Xylella problem, which infected more than 21 million olive trees.
The rapid advance and spread of the bacterium has aggravated the situation in a really short time. The legislature trying to dwell on possible precautions did not encourage the search for a concrete solution against the bacterium, contributing to the aggravation of the situation.
Very recent data, referring to production in 2019/2020, stated that in the province of Lecce it decreased by 90%.
It is also necessary to take into consideration the economic impact on the workers and of the mills who, because they do not have the raw material available, cannot work and, therefore, cannot start up the plants either.
To have lost their jobs are more than 5,000 farmers, who were working in the extra virgin olive oil supply chain before this sector suffered the severe attack of Xylella.
WHAT DID THE LAW PROVIDE FOR?
In recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture has adopted various decrees to try to remedy the major problem of Xylella, which affects us all: the proposed solutions are the uprooting of olive trees and the use of a large amount of herbicides and insecticides.
Providing the use of insecticides to try to combat this bacterium can cause damage to pollinating insects, heavily pollute soil and groundwater, and most importantly, alter the quality of the final product.
To incentivize the uprooting of olive trees, compensation has been provided for those who provide for the removal of the plant, whether diseased or healthy, and financial penalties for those who oppose it.
Recognizing compensation for those who uproot olive trees discourages any approach that aims at prevention or environmental precaution.
Trying to remedy Xylella with these decrees has caused a general public resignation to the fact that this pest is unbeatable, unstoppable.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AGAINST XYLELLA
In 2015, treating some infected trees with specific products (such as manure, fertilizer and bio-stimulants, but not insecticides) was able to overcome the presence of the bacterium and preserve the survival of the olive trees.
Another possible solution is to plant bacterium-resistant varieties, such as Leccino and Favolosa, which seems to be the best remedy because it has a positive impact both economically and in terms of landscape.
The project “Olivami” has as its basic goal to preserve the Apulian landscape, as well as to resume olive and olive oil production.
