Varietà da conservazione in Italia: lo stato dell’arte per le specie orticole

Dopo un’introduzione sull’origine, il significato e il valore di biodiversità, varietà locali e varietà da conservazione, la rassegna evidenzia che sono 102 le varietà da conservazione iscritte nel Catalogo Comune Europeo delle varietà delle specie di ortaggi. L’Italia è il Paese che vanta il numero maggiore di varietà iscritte, appannaggio di tre regioni italiane: Toscana (21), Piemonte (8) e Lombardia (3). Vengono presentati due casi studio, uno di successo (Regione Lombardia), che descrive la procedura adottata per l’iscrizione nel Registro Nazionale, e l’altro di prospettiva (Regione Puglia), e lo stretto rapporto che esiste tra i prodotti agroalimentari tradizionali e le varietà da conservazione.

The “conservation varieties” definition was introduced in Europe on 14 December 1998 by Commission Directive 1998/95/EC, as a new type of agricultural varieties that you can market in Europe in order to preserve the plant genetic resources favoring the marketing of their seeds. After an introduction on the origin, meaning and the value of biodiversity, local varieties and conservation varieties, this review reports that 102 conservation varieties are registered in the European Common Catalogue of varieties of vegetable species. Only 12 out of the 28 EU Countries have registered conservation varieties in the Common Catalogue: Italy, Spain, Croatia, Portugal, Romania, France, Slovenia, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Latvia and Hungary. Italy boasts the highest number of registered varieties, although only three Italian Regions have registered conservation varieties of vegetable species in the Common Catalogue: Tuscany (21), Piedmont (8) and Lombardy (3). For each registered variety in the Italian conservation register, the main parameters set by the Commission Directives are reported: area of origin, the total area that can be cultivated, the total area used for seed production, and the annual quantitative limits for the production of seed. The Lombardy Region case study shows how it is possible to simplify the procedure for the submission and evaluation of requests to register potential conservation varieties in the specific section of the National Register of varieties of agricultural and vegetable species. Instead, the Apulia Region case study emphasizes the role of growing and marketing seeds of conservation varieties in order to preserve plant genetic resources. Despite having recently recovered 122 local vegetable varieties, and the specific actions taken by the Regional Administration to protect and valorize the plant genetic resources, the Apulia register for conservation varieties has not been yet established, neither is for the procedure for the submission and the evaluation of requests to register conservation varieties in the National Register, both foreseen by the regional law 2013/39 (“Protection of indigenous genetic resources of agricultural, forestry and livestock”). This review also examines the close relationship between the traditional agrifood products (products with a strong reputation and close relationship with the territory) and conservation varieties, because often the traditional agrifood products are local varieties or have these varieties as a main component or ingredient. On this basis, the Authors recommend the development of information and communication campaigns to help raise awareness about traditional agrifood products and conservation varieties among consumers, and to foster their interest in implementing the virtuous circle of “if you eat me, you preserve me”.