The success of the European Meetings confirmed the mobilization of Chestnut sector

This year, it is the province of León (Spain) which has welcomed and organized, with AREFLH, the European Meetings of Chestnut (11-13 September): 180 producers, processors and market directors came from 10 countries and 3 continents to Ponferrada (Castilla y León) to discuss their common problems and share their experiences.

A plan to revive the European chestnut is running in several regions (Galicia, Portugal, South West of France) with ambitious goals. These are essential and urgent because the chestnut has lost more than 50% of its potential in 40 years. Everything must be done to meet the challenge: new planting, restoring old chestnut, etc. But this aim can only be fully achieved if we give producers the means to effectively fight against disease of chestnut (gall wasp, endothia, chancroid, codling moth, salanin).

A particular focus was given to the gall wasp, which wreaked havoc in Italy, France, and quickly spread to Spain and Portugal. Concerning this pest, a biological control method with Torymus, its predator, has been successfully developed in Italy.

These meetings help to stimulate trade between producers and operators in the European sector, highlighting the main problems that hinder its development while finding common solutions.