The Institute of Plant Production of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna participates in two webinars on sustainability and innovation in olive growing.
On November 21, 2025, the Italian olive sector will be at the center of two important webinars focused on sustainability, agronomic innovation, and climate change adaptation strategies. The first seminar, organized within the framework of the #Planet O-live project, will address the topic “Olive Growing and Climate Change”. The Mediterranean is now considered a “hotspot” of global warming, and the Italian olive sector faces unprecedented challenges.
Prof. Luca Sebastiani from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna will lead an analysis of the national olive system, exploring its strengths and weaknesses, short- and medium-term adaptation strategies, and the role of scientific research, from genetic improvement to the use of sensors and artificial intelligence for monitoring olive groves.
The seminar highlights how collaboration between academia and industry is essential to translate scientific evidence into sustainable field practices.
The event is free and will be held online at 10:30 AM. Registration here
In the afternoon, the National Academy of Olive and Olive Oil will host the webinar “Management of Canopy, Water, and Soil in Olive Groves of Xylella-Resistant Varieties”, featuring Prof. Alessandra Francini from the Institute of Plant Production of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna. The session will present the preliminary results of the CASOliReXy project, coordinated by Prof. Tiziano Caruso of the University of Palermo, aimed at defining agronomic strategies for the Favolosa and Leccino varieties, which show greater resistance to Xylella fastidiosa.
The project, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Forestry Sovereignty (MASAF), is coordinated by Prof. Tiziano Caruso of the SAAF Department (Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences) at the University of Palermo, in collaboration with Prof. Luca Sebastiani of the Institute of Plant Production at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Prof. Riccardo Gucci of the DiSAAA-a Department (Agricultural, Food and Agro-environmental Sciences) at the University of Pisa, and Prof. Franco Famiani of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (DSA3) at the University of Perugia.
Prof. Francini will specifically discuss the impact of thermal and water stress on plants, using rapid, non-invasive analyses of the photosynthetic process, providing practical tools for more resilient management practices. The webinar is free and open to industry professionals, agronomists, and enthusiasts.
Academic participants will receive the link directly from the technical support service, while non-academic participants should send a message to info@simplogic.it to receive access.
These two events represent a unique opportunity to stay updated on the challenges and innovations in the Italian olive sector, deepening the connection between scientific research, technology, and sustainability.
