Puglia allocates €30 million to combat Xylella bacterium

The Puglia region has launched a €30 million public tender to support the restoration of agricultural productivity damaged by the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium. The funding aims to help agricultural businesses replace damaged olive trees with resistant or tolerant varieties or to facilitate the conversion of olive groves into other permissible tree crops.

To ensure accessibility and widespread participation, the regional government will host an information roadshow across several cities. Scheduled meetings will take place in Brindisi on November 16, Lecce on November 17, Taranto on December 14, and Bari on December 16. These sessions will allow farmers and agricultural organizations to consult directly with regional officials and phytosanitary observatory technicians.

In Calabria, local authorities, Coldiretti, and the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) are also addressing the threat of Xylella. Recent discussions in Montalto Uffugo focused on protecting Calabrian olive cultivation through biodiversity, innovation, and scientific research to safeguard the region's rural economy and territorial identity.