Do you know when basil cultivation developed in Liguria?
Beginning in the 19th century, it expanded during the first half of the 20th century. Until the 1980s, the basil production cycle in Liguria was “closed”: that is, the seeds were also produced, selected to offer the best aromatic characteristics.
Ligurian seed production then gradually stopped due to the onset of diseases and the new economic demands caused by market growth.
From that moment on, the production cycle “opened up” outside Liguria, in search of seeds that were resistant or at least tolerant to diseases that would allow for sustainable production with a lower environmental impact.
Specialized seed companies have thus come into play, using native seeds supplied by Ligurian farmers to improve them to make them more productive and less susceptible to disease.
In 2006 the "Genoese Basil" DOP was recognized
With the recognition of the “Basilico Genovese” PDO, the production specifications establish that the product’s characteristics are essentially due to the combined action of the growing environment and the ” human factor ,” namely the traditional cultivation techniques of Ligurian producers. It also stipulates that the seeds used must be of the Ocimum basilicum L. species, “an ecotype of native selections.”
Today, commercial seeds adequately express the typical characteristics of Genoese Basil DOP when grown under traditional Ligurian conditions. However, to prevent the genetic degradation of Genoese Basil DOP in the future, the Consortium for the Protection of Genoese Basil DOP is participating in a project to recover eight original basil varieties that have been protected by CeRSAA for over 30 years.
The project is called Old Basil and is carried out with Cersaa and Coldiretti Genova and the companies Azienda Agricola Casotti Azienda Agricola di Ratto Francesco Le Serre sul Mare Ferrari and Bruzzone, in collaboration with the University of Genoa – DISTAV and with the support of the Liguria Region [ Rural Development Programme 2014/22 – European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.]
