Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

Oil, refresher course in view of the PGI

New techniques for olive tree pruning. This was the theme of the two days organized by the technical desk of the IRVOS of Canicattì and which involved producers and workers from the Sicilian olive sector. Eighty participants in all had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the world of olive cultivation

through meetings that were held on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd March at the Benedictine Abbey Company in San Martino delle Scale and the Villagrazia Company in Canicattì. “The path undertaken by the Institute – explains the general director, Lucio Monte – is that of achieving the PGI for Sicilian extra virgin olive oil. Hence the organisation's desire to help producers improve the quality of their oil from a broader perspective of added value".

The participants, eighty for each course and who declared themselves satisfied with this first step and who were also issued a certificate of participation, also had the opportunity to try new machinery and to deepen their knowledge of what concerns diseases in trees of olive trees, irrigation and fertilization methods. “A full immersion in the world of olive cultivation – comments Gianni Giardina who accompanied the participants – which was very profitable in various respects. The initiative was born with the precise aim of informing and updating those working in the sector on the news relating to the new pruning techniques and the related modern instruments". In fact, the course falls within the scope of staff training and was totally free.