ASSOCIATION SAVE THE OLIVES
In defense of olive trees, and to give a new boost and a new future to Apulian and Mediterranean olive growing
Save the Olives ONLUS is a non-profit organization of volunteers tackling the Xylella Fastidiosa epidemic in Apulia
Who we are
Save the Olives ONLUS is a non-profit organization of volunteers tackling the Xylella Fastidiosa epidemic in Apulia, southern Italy. Detached from politics, far from polemics and indifferent to conspiracy ideas, we act together in a millenary landscape trying to concentrate the forces of the interested parties to raise awareness and educate the inhabitants of the attacked territory. We are agronomists, farmers, artists, engineers, students, businessmen and researchers, but above all we are great defenders of our land who believe in a sustainable future for the olive culture.
The Association
Save the Olives ONLUS is a non-profit organization open to all those who, lovers of olive trees and Apulia, wish to make their own small contribution to the preservation of this territory, and to be involved and updated on what is happening about the Xylella issue.
Our team
Francesco Winspeare
President
Cantina Castel Di Salve – Depressa di Tricase (Lecce – Puglia)
PJ Natuzzi
Counsil – Philanthropy & Communication Director
Creative Director Natuzzi
Nicola di Noia
Counsil
D.G. Unaprol – Evooschool founder
Patrizio Ziggiotti
General Secretary
Scientific Committee
Donato Boscia
RESEARCHER CNR BARI
Giovanni Melcarne
AGRONOMIST – FORESTAFORTE
Pietro Petroni
AGRONOMIST
Costantino Parma
AGRONOMIST
Advisory Committee
Diane Adrianssen
De Spoelberch
Helen Mirren
Emmanuela De Nora
Costantino Parma
Our goal
Save the Olives collaborates with the most important players in the fight against Xylella: C.N.R.’s Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Coldiretti, Unaprol, and Forestaforte. Our actions focus on two fundamental lines of action.
The first and most urgent, is the preservation of the centuries-old olive trees of the Plain of Monumental Olive Trees, the area of Apulia with the highest concentration of monumental and ultra-century-old olive trees in the world. This is a unique and irreplaceable landscape and historical heritage for Puglia and for all humanity.
The second is the search for new native olive varieties that are productive and resistant to the Xylella fastidiosa bacteria. New varieties, soon to be announced, are the result of ten years of scientific research achieved through crosses of native plants and genetic improvements.
Our action
We try to fight Xylella on two fronts: on the one hand, we aim to raise awareness among a wider public, trying to get more parties and experts to join our cause. This is why we attend conferences and organise public events, always inviting researchers and agronomists to discuss the issue.
On the other hand, we try to demonstrate in the field the correlations between good agronomic practices and scientific research innovation. Through a careful combination of the two we will try to tackle the epidemic attack of Xylella Fastidiosa that is destroying Apulian olive groves.
Early grafting
Grafting is a reversible agronomic practice that allows the anatomical-physiological fusion of two individuals belonging to different species or varieties, rootstock and graft, of which the former constitutes the basal part of the plant and the latter the aerial part that allows biological continuity.
It has been shown that some varieties of olive trees are more resistant to Xyllella, and therefore grafting on centuries-old olive trees could save them, thus protecting the historical and landscape heritage of Apulia.
This monumental olive tree has been grafted 12 months ago.
Help us to support research with a donation
In the ADOPT section you can adopt a monumental olive tree or make a free donation.
Every contribution is valuable!
To make a donation by bank transfer, you must send payment indicating “Save The Olives Donation” as the reason for payment
IBAN – IT 80 R 05262 80110 CC0210240260
SWIFT CODE – BPPUIT33
Banca Popolare Pugliese – Filiale di Tricase