Carpanzano hosts conference on chestnut industry challenges

During the 20th Carpanzano Chestnut Festival in Calabria, local authorities and industry experts convened to discuss the future of the chestnut supply chain. The conference, titled ‘The chestnut supply chain: challenges and perspectives’, was organized by the Cosenza section of Italia Nostra.

Participants highlighted significant structural difficulties facing the sector, particularly regarding commercialization and fair compensation for producers. A central issue discussed was the Rovellese chestnut variety, a high-quality local product that often fails to command market prices sufficient to cover production costs. Experts warned that these economic pressures risk the abandonment of chestnut groves, which would lead to the loss of significant agricultural, landscape, and cultural heritage in the region.