Lombardy Adds Eight New Agricultural Varieties to National Biodiversity Registry

Eight new plant varieties have been added to Lombardy’s biodiversity registry, bringing the total to 36 resources. The recent entries include regional products such as Fagiolo della Valvestino and Carciofo di Malegno in Brescia, Mais di Suzzara in Mantova, Pisello Precoce di Miradolo Terme and Mais di Torre d’Isola in Pavia, Mais Rostrato Rosso di Rovetta and Castagno di Balestrera in Bergamo, and Patata Bianca di Starleggia in Sondrio. These varieties are recognized under a national registry established by the Agriculture Ministry to protect local genetic diversity at risk of erosion.

Among the new entries, Fagiolo della Valvestino is highlighted as a historic variety imported in the late 1500s, notable for its size, protein content, and multicolored appearance. Its conservation is managed by the Terra tra i due Laghi Forest Consortium, with seed sharing between the Catholic University of Piacenza and the University of Pavia’s Germplasm Bank. In 2025, 2.5 quintals of dry product were marketed, cultivated in a handful of local gardens and sold through regional outlets in Turano and Bollone.
Italian Version