Consorzio Casalasco boosts basil supply chain against downy mildew

The Consorzio Casalasco del Pomodoro organized a roundtable at its Innovation Center in Fontanellato, Italy, to discuss the basil supply chain and measures to combat downy mildew (peronospora). Researchers, technical experts and farmers attended, including Giovanni Minuto (Director General of CERSAA Albenga), Andrea Minuto (Director of the CERSAA Plant Pathology Laboratory), Ruggero Colla (Director of the Regional Plant Health Service of Emilia‑Romagna), Gianni Bottino (President of the Basilico Genovese DOP Consortium) and Antonio Rossetto (researcher at Open Fields).

The meeting highlighted an integrated supply‑chain model, presenting technical solutions, monitoring tools and knowledge transfer to help growers address climate‑related challenges. Drawing on experience from the tomato sector, the consortium is providing technical assistance, field monitoring and coordinated support, reporting early positive results a year after the basil chain was launched.