Nowadays, the tendency in the fruit and vegetable world is to be sustainable, i.e. for agricultural (and fruit and vegetable) productions to have a minor impact on the environment, on the health of operators and consumers and on production costs.
In 2009, Syngenta, a company which is always tried to maintain the performances of its partners, started the "Sinergie" integrated production program which combines the latest agricultural products, innovative genetics and defence programmes using useful insects with the aim of maximizing the agronomic potential and the quality characteristics of productions.
For the first time, an instrument is offered to growers, that combines in a single platform various modes and technologies for the protection of vegetables.
Specific cultivation protocols have been studied and experimented for tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, aubergines and strawberries to provide the chain with an innovative offer to satisfy the increasing demand for safe, controlled, reliable and sustainable products.
Practical applications at "Il Pomodoro Italiano" consortium
It was possible to have a look at some sustainable tomato varieties - 27 hybrids, some of which are already for sale and others which are in the testing phase.
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An event was organised on 20th and 21st June 2013 in order to taste the varieties and witness the quality, health and sustainability of Produzioni Italiane Sostenibili.
The meeting that took place during the days dedicated to retail.
The excellent combination of quality, control and long shelf-life that characterizes Produzioni Italiane Sostenibili means operators from the retailing world work with healthy products with added value that satisfy the demand for healthy high-quality produce.
Syngenta varietal hybrids at the event.
Furthermore, Produzioni Italiane Sostenibili enables a better management of the fruit and vegetable department and higher margins as products have qualitative, health and authenticity credentials.
Testimonies
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Group photo. Left to right: Simona Rollo, Sergio Ruffo (crouched down), Ciro Cosimo Santoro, Pietro Calabrese, Rodolfo Occhipinti, Giuseppe Brafa, Giacomo Purromuto and Giovanni di Giacomo.
Ciro Cosimo Santoro, Syngenta's Solution Development Manager, comments that, "Syngenta is focusing not so much on how plants are treated, but rather on how we can perfectly grow them. The concept of a healthy plant is an essential element for the prevention of diseases rather than for the cure, so chemicals can be reduced. "Bringing plant potential to life" is our mission!".
Giovanni Di Giacomo, Field Crop Expert for Sicily, underlines that, "the actions to sustainably use phytosanitary products have been defined by the Community directive 128/2009 which has the objective of safeguarding human and environmental health and to reduce the use of agricultural products. In art. 14, the directive has listed some important actions such as the creation of National Action Plans, the training of operators, specific measures to handle phytosanitary products, specific measures for sensitive areas and the use of reduced impact types of agriculture (integrated control and organic agriculture).
"Despite these directives though, we must not forget in which direction the market is evolving. Sustainability is not just a job, it's a choice. Companies which choose not to comply with it, will be cut off from the market, especially since even distributors are requiring the respect of sustainable parameters."
Sergio Ruffo, Portfolio Manager Bioline Italy, has talked about the role of biological control in the "Sinergie" project: "useful insects such as the Nesidiocoris Tenuis (against Tuta Absoluta and white fly), Amblyseius Andersoni (against mites and acaruses) and Eretmocerus Eremicus (against white fly) were introduced in the display greenhouse you visited, which was transplanted in March 2013. Such insects, which eat damaging insects, are active for months after they have been introduced. The important thing is to prevent possible infestations." As revealed by the manager, the next application fields of Syngenta Bioline will be table grapes, pear and apple trees an citrus fruit.
As regards collaboration with Sata, manager Rodolfo Occhipinti said that, "we are monitoring the climatic factors inside greenhouses such as humidity and relative temperatures, which are important not only for yields but also for the creation of the best habitat for biological control. In addition, we are improving the water supply using computerised manometers, which is also important to contain costs!"
Carmelo Calabrese, chairman of the consortium, stresses that, "nowadays, consumers want more information on the origin of products, they require high quality produce and the now the difference between the products. Il Pomodoro Italiano guarantees the difference of our products, which are authentic, excellent and sustainable. We started a partnership with Syngenta to coordinate and develop new strategies to promote and safeguard the Dunnè and Camone varieties, which are exclusive to the consortium."
"We are also defining some projects to promote the varieties produced by our partners. Not only do we want to differentiate the produce with a special packaging or a label indicating its origin, we also want a complete cooperation so that our clients can appraise the whole tomato segment. In addition, the fact that some patented varieties are exclusive to us means we can optimise business relations." The Consortium gathers 680 hectares for a total turnover of €278 million in 2012.
"We are also defining some projects to promote the varieties produced by our partners. Not only do we want to differentiate the produce with a special packaging or a label indicating its origin, we also want a complete cooperation so that our clients can appraise the whole tomato segment. In addition, the fact that some patented varieties are exclusive to us means we can optimise business relations." The Consortium gathers 680 hectares for a total turnover of €278 million in 2012.
Syngenta, the only group dedicated to agribusiness worldwide, demonstrates its capacity to combine competences, scientific resources and technical-commercial support to produce innovative solutions in line with the evolving needs of the sector.
Syngenta can offer continuous support to all operators who wish to rely on innovation, high quality and sustainability to produce more and better.
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Contacts:
Syngenta
Renzo Lazzarin - Portfolio Manager Solanacee
Email: [email protected]
Elena Secchi
Marketing Services Officer
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.syngenta.com
SATA
Rodolfo Occhipinti
Responsabile Area Sicilia
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.satasrl.it
Consorzio Il Pomodoro Italiano
via Oleandro, 21
97018 Scicli (RG) - Italia
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ilpomodoroitaliano.it