Pruning of Olive Trees on Lake Garda: Regional Approval for Combustion Exemption Olive growers operating in the production areas of Garda DOP and ‘Laghi Lombardi’ extra virgin olive oil will be allowed, in 2025, to burn the waste generated from pruning olive trees. This decision, recently approved by the Lombardy Region, aims to combat the spread of harmful organisms and protect the olive oil supply chain in Lombardy. Councillors Alessandro Beduschi and Giorgio Maione emphasized the importance of this phytosanitary measure, which has long been requested by producers to address issues related to the Asian bug and other pests.
The burning must adhere to specific best management practices, limiting piles to a volume of less than 3 cubic meters per hectare per day. The exemption will be valid for the year 2025, with a possible extension to be evaluated based on the persistence of harmful organisms. “Lombardy’s olive growers make a significant contribution to the lake territories,” the councillors highlighted, underscoring that olive oil production represents not only an economic value but also a cultural and environmental one.
