Press release Padua,
19th April 2018
“Can the silkworm contribute to the growth of our territory?”
The answer to this question was given during the meeting of 18th April 2018 at CREA –Research Centre of Agriculture and Environment (AA) – Sericulture Laboratory of Padua. Here, the first Italian Operational Group on sericulture was officially introduced to the public in the conference hall of the adjoining Esapolis Museum (Padua Province). It was established in the Venetian Region, thanks to the project Serinnovation that was funded by a programme devoted to Cooperation belonging to the Plan for the Rural Development.
It is a project that reappreciates traditional silk production with a focus on innovation, offering sound income opportunities to the agricultural and industrial world. In addition to the project partners, many industrial and artisanal stakeholders, representatives of credit firms and agriculture world interested in the rehabilitation of sericulture in the Venetian Region participated.
To present the goals, the foreseen activities and the innovation characteristics of the project: Claudio Gheller of Veneto Marketing Srl, responsible for dissemination and communication; Silvia Cappellozza, of CREA-AA of Padua, responsible for the technical and scientific framework of the project; Paolo Menesatti, director of the Research Centre of Agricultural Engineering and Agro-Food Processes of CREA, whose researchers collaborate with Padua for mechanisation in sericulture and moriculture; Guido Bettella, representative for the Agricultural Company “il Brolo”, lead partner of the Operational Group; Lino Bernardo, president of the Network of the Silkworm Rearers “Bachicoltura Setica”, who takes part on the behalf of experienced silkworm rearers; Samuele Trestini (TESAF – University of Padova), who is the contact person for the activities of study, modeling and replicability of the Serinnovation project.
Enzo Moretto, director of the Esapolis Museum, welcomed the participants and explained the history and the importance of the CREA of Padua and of the Esapolis Museum.
As testimonials of current projects, companies that have been using 100% Italian produced silk cocoons, D’orica and Leonardino showed some of their products. These companies are completely employing the production of “Bachicoltura Setica”, the first unique network of Italian sericultural farms that produces raw material for Italy’s only certified silk production chain.
Andrea Strano of the jewel company D’orica described the developments of some valuable projects of his firm, in the sectors of jewels, textile handcraftsmanship, fashion and luxury, thanks to the innovation of machines and unique competences in Europe; Stefano Lorenzoni outlined the needs for quality and traceability to satisfy the production of medical devices by the innovative start-up Leonardino.
Significant development perspectives were also given by delegates of new companies such as the start-up ATP r&d, which deals with biotechnologies applied to animal feeding and presented by Luca Tassoni. The French start-up Sericyne represented by Jeanne Merlay wants to produce silk in France year round, also with the consultancy of CREA.
Present at the event Dr. Daniele Pachera (Ratti ltd, Marzotto Group) and the engineer Giorgio Nembri (Textile industries Nembri of Capriolo – BS),, and the representatives of the three more important farmers organizations in Padua (CIA, Coldiretti, Confagricoltura).
Many other Italian and foreign stakeholders are keeping contacts in Padova to learn new and efficient techniques that promote sericulture in Italy and other European countries. In addition to being a clear signal of the growing interest towards the sound potential of development that this chain can bring to the territory, the presence of these stakeholders is further appreciation for Venetian excellence recognized at an international level.
On the web-site www.serinnovation.it all the project’s news and the training opportunities for future silkworm rearers will be reported.
