New Truffle Cultivation Research to Begin on the Island of Pantelleria
In the coming weeks, a scientific research project will commence, involving experimental truffle cultivation through the mycorrhization of plants obtained from native propagation material.
The project is conducted by the National Park Authority of the Island of Pantelleria, in collaboration with the Municipality of Pantelleria, the Regional Coordination for Truffles of Sicily (Co.Re.Ta.S) of the Regional Department of Agriculture, and the University of Palermo.
The initiative, suggested by Park Commissioner Italo Cucci, aims to explore new opportunities for the economic development of Pantelleria by diversifying agricultural production and sustainably enhancing the resources of the territory. The experimentation will solely involve private agricultural lands, explicitly excluding any future use in state-owned forested areas for the research and collection of hypogeous fungi. Currently, only the presence of the non-edible Tuber panniferum is known on Pantelleria, the trade of which is prohibited under Article 2 of Law 752/1985 "Framework legislation on the collection and trade of fresh or preserved truffles intended for consumption," implemented by the Sicilian Region with Regional Law No. 35/2020.
The first step of the research will be a careful environmental impact assessment to identify potential interferences with the island's ecosystems due to the introduction of allochthonous hypogeous fungi.
