Agriculture: Italy-China cooperation for hazelnut cultivation

ENEA, the University of Tuscia (Viterbo - Central Italy) and the Chinese Academy of Forestry of Sichuan have signed a collaboration agreement born from the scientific interchange of the last years in the field of the hazelnut production chain.

ENEA, the University of Tuscia in central Italy and the Academy of Forestry of Sichuan (Chengdu-China) have signed a collaboration agreement foreseeing the standardization of experimental methodologies, the technological transfer and the exchange of researchers in the hazelnut production chain. The agreement was designed on the basis of the results obtained from the joined activities conducted last year in China by the experts of the three institutions.

“The agreement provides a good opportunity for consolidating a scientific interchange aimed at the development and the diffusion of Mediterranean tree crops in the strategic Sichuan province. The objective falls under the priorities set by the bilateral cooperation Italy-China and the strategy launched by the national public-private cluster AGRIFOOD,  of which ENEA is a member- Loretta Bacchetta, ENEA researcher at the ENEA Division “Biotechnologies and Agro-Industry” pointed out”.

The Italian researchers in China carried out technical surveys- including that at the experimental facility dedicated to forest species and tree cultivations of the Hilongtan Base Breeding Center -  gave lectures on the hazelnut and participated in meetings with diplomats and local scientists. The experts also met with delegates from the Professional Committee of Hazelnut, China Cash Forest Association (PCH-CCFA) at the Chinese Academy of Forestry of Bejing.

The ENEA Division “ Biotechnologies and Agro-Industry” has acquired a long-standing experience in the field of propagation, characterization and valorization of genetic resources, developing specific competency in the identification and varietal selection, the in-vitro techniques, the nutritional and nutraceutical evaluation of products and derivatives and the agronomic cultivation techniques. In particular, the role of ENEA within the AGRIFOOD cluster favoured the inclusion of the Academy of Forestry of Sichuan among the reference institutions for the Italian delegation mission supported by the MIUR and composed by representatives from companies and scientific institutions.

For more information please contact:

Loretta Bacchetta, ENEA – Biotechnologies and Agro-Industry Division , loretta.bacchetta@enea.it