From mulberry cultivation to silkworm rearing: development opportunities for the near future
On 24 January, in Cervignano del Friuli (Udine, northeastern Italy), at at teatro Pasolini, Piazza Indipendenza, 34, a conference will be held focusing on the potential development of sericulture in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. The initiative is part of the broader actions promoted by CREA within the mission of the Aracne project, which aims to enhance the silk value chain as an agricultural, scientific, and productive heritage, as well as a driver for sustainable innovation.
The event will foster dialogue among the agricultural sector, crafts, research institutions, and local stakeholders, with the active participation of Confagricoltura Friuli Venezia Giulia, Confartigianato Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the project promoters. The discussion will focus on the potential of sericulture as an emerging value chain, capable of linking tradition with new applications in agriculture, the environment, and health-related fields.
During the conference, Silvia Cappellozza from CREA Agriculture and Environment will present the recent development of sericulture in the Veneto region, highlighting the key role played by regional policies in supporting the revival of the sector. Angelo Paganin, from Cantiere della Provvidenza, will then share the experience of Venetian farmers, illustrating practical aspects and challenges encountered in restarting this activity.
A distinctive feature of the conference will be the exploration of the potential applications of sericulture in the health sector, alongside a discussion on the biodynamic agricultural approach applied to silkworm rearing. These themes closely reflect the mission of the Aracne project, which seeks to investigate new development pathways for the silk value chain through sustainable and territorially integrated production models.
