BERGAMOT - A Green and Multifunctional Asset Exclusive from the Province of Reggio Calabria

Abstract

Bergamot is a typical citrus fruit that comes almost exclusively from the province of Reggio Calabria. It is a symbol of biodiversity and Calabria has a corner on this exclusive asset as more than 90% of bergamot world production comes from this region . It is to be considered a green asset as it fully complies with Green economy standards and, as every part of the fruit can be used in different sectors, it is a multifunctional product. Essence is requested by perfumer factories, it is widely employed in the cosmetic sector and in pharmacopoeia. The fresh fruit is gaining growing importance for its therapeutic/health fanatic capacity; the juice is used in pharmacopoeia and in the production of derived products as citric acid, while the peel is used to extract pectin; “pastazzo”, which is mainly used as animal feed, is now used in the preparation of a special lime that, according to the oral building tradition handed down in the ionic area, is to be considered important for its antifungal and antibacterial properties, thus in compliance with green economy standards. Associations have always been in charge of the protection of this product; in the past, they were well represented by the Consorzio del Bergamotto whereas the baton has been recently passed on to UnionBerg O.P.; founded in 2004, it aims at guaranteeing a continuing quality production and fixed prices as required by customers, by means of a “voluntary stockpile”. From an economic point of view, the product profitability is interestingly mirrored in the land value, which is remarkably higher than table values. Sentence 181/2011 of the Constitutional Court declared it unlawful and provides that only the market value is to be considered. Bergamot is a resource of the coming metropolitan area and it is therefore worth the attention of scientific research as it is likely to offer further and determinant contributions in less explored sectors, especially those pertaining to health and wealth.

Bergamot Oil: Botany, Production, Pharmacology

“…The tree seems to be very sensitive to pedoclimatic conditions and hence cultivation was and is mainly limited to the region of Calabria [22]. After periods of expansion and reduction in the cultivated area, today Bergamot cultivation occurs mainly in a stretch of land of 100-140 km from Reggio di Calabria following the Ionian Coast, comprising 1000-1400 hectares between Villa San Giovanni and Monasterace, 800 of which are used by farmers who are part of the organization "Organizzazione Produttori Unionberg" [40].…”