EUROCASTANEA presented the strengths of the European chestnut sector in Parliament

Representatives of the chestnuts sector from France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria had the opportunity to present the current strengths and challenges of the sector to Members of the European Parliament on the 4th December.

 

 

 

MEPs are aware of the importance of chestnut orchards for the occupation of rural areas but also for their contribution to the fight against climate change through their decisive role in carbon sequestration.

 

 

 

These data are detailed in the 'White Paper of the European Chestnut', a report published by EUROCASTANEA and AREFLH, which was presented at the meeting and which identifies the strengths, challenges and economic statistics of chestnut production in Europe.

 

 

 

The chestnut producers present at the meeting took the opportunity to share with the representatives of the AGRI Committee of the European Parliament the importance of promoting research programs to fight pests that cause significant damage to production. Jean-Louis Moulon, Vice-President of AREFLH, spoke of the forthcoming creation of an AREFLH working group specifically dedicated to the stakes of nuts (chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, etc.).

 

 

 

The producers also insisted on their desire to revive chestnut production by planting 40,000 hectares of trees in order to restore production levels in the 1960s (400,000 tonnes) through strong and coordinated actions between the producing countries.