A project that combines environmental protection, economic development and land enhancement. The largest controlled truffle ground in Europe is taking shape in Basilicata: approximately 143 hectares of wooded area in the Ionian pine forest of Metapontino, between the municipalities of Pisticci and Scanzano Jonico.
The news was announced by the regional councilor for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, Carmine Cicala, who emphasized that the initiative represents a model for the active and planned management of the forest heritage. “When management is structured – explains – it produces concrete effects on the environment, economy and local communities. It is on this balance that we are working”.
The recognition of the truffle ground marks a significant step towards forest management capable of combining conservation and production. The project, developed by ALSIA in collaboration with regional structures and the association system, is part of the broader Regional Forestry Program currently being defined.
This is not, therefore, an isolated intervention, but an overall strategy aimed at strengthening the truffle supply chain, which is increasingly central to the Lucanian economy. “We want to qualify regional supply and create new opportunities even in high-value markets”, adds Cicala.
The promotional initiatives already launched are also in this direction, including the initiative linked to the Lucanian fine white truffle auction, which has opened up international channels and relationships, helping to raise awareness of the product beyond national borders.
From an environmental point of view, the Metapontino Ionian pine forest plays a strategic role in protecting the soil and surrounding agricultural areas. The launch of the controlled truffle farm introduces more targeted and sustainable management, with specific interventions such as selective thinning, new truffle planting, and access regulation.
“It is from here – concludes the councilor – that a new idea of development passes: a model capable of holding together territorial protection and economic growth in a credible and lasting way”.
A project that looks to the future, with the ambition of transforming Basilicata into one of the main European hubs of truffle production.