Based on the 23 Reference Mountain Regions where the H2020 project is rolling-out its research activities and actions engaging relevant stakeholders through Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs), MOVING published in the first half of 2022 the first set of individual Policy Briefs.
These documents, focusing on different types of value chains (meat, cheese, honey, wine, crops, ecc…), present the Mountain Reference Region (MRR), the value chain (VC) contribution to sustainability and resilience of the region, some innovation components of the VC and a set of policy recommendations tailored to the specific characteristics of each of the mountain regions.
Some of them are dedicated to PDO value chains, like the PDO chestnut flour and chestnut trees in the Renoso massif.
PDO chestnut flour and chestnut trees in the Renoso massif
The Monte Renoso massif is a mountainous massif in Corsica, whose territory is widely covered in chestnut orchards.
The revival of chestnut groves in this region started with a social movement called riacquistu (1975-1990) and the recognition of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for the chestnut flour in 2006.
The success of the PDO has led to the exploitation of 2 000 ha out of the 30 000 ha of the island’s chestnut grove.
All PDO production is from organic agriculture and the management of production and the protection of the interests of the value chain are the responsibility of the PDO “Corsican chestnut flour – Farina castagnina corsa”.
Almost all of the production of chestnuts is transformed into flour in local small-scale mills.
Despite the good commercial value of the PDO flour, it is not sufficient to counter the various vulnerabilities of the chestnut groves (old trees, diseases, climate change and village abandonment). The management of chestnut grove requires a plurality of actors, producers of PDO flour, other producers and private and public users, and first and foremost the inhabitants of the regions concerned. Thus, the coexistence of several value chains associated with PDO flour (the PDO “Mele di Corsica” and the three PDOs from pig breeding: “Coppa di Corsica”, “Lonzu” and “Prisuttu”) is guaranteed especially preventing conflicts of use.
The case of the Corsican chestnut grove opens up new ways of public action taking into account several dimensions:
- The multifunctionality of the chestnut grove calls for an articulation between market, food and landscape functions in relation to local sociability.
- The coexistence of several value chains associated with PDO flour (fruit, charcuterie and wood) in order to prevent conflicts of use, in particular between chestnut farming and livestock activities (pork/charcuterie), a participation extended to others actors than only professionals (in particular to the inhabitants) taking into account business models which include the planting of new trees.
- A response to climate and health crises based on an organisation and governance on the basis of the territory (Bocognano and Ghisoni).
Download the policy brief on the right to read more.
The complete list of Policy Briefs is available in the library section of the MOVING website.
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