INnovation in Truffle cultivation, preservAtion, proCessing and wild truffle resources managemenT

ongoing

Truffles are esteemed edible fungi and one of the most valuable non-wood forest products that grow in symbiotic association with their host trees. They are of high economic and social value and their cultivation is of significant interest in the development of rural areas in European countries, but increasingly also in other continents. However, it has been observed a decline of wild truffle production and a heterogeneity in the truffle yields in new plantations, mainly due to the lack of enough knowledge about the ecology and management of the fungi. Accordingly, this MSCA-RISE project aims at establishing a multi-lateral network of research and innovation staff active in sustainable use of both wild and cultivated truffles, including the cultivation, but also pre-treatment, preservation and processing of the truffles. Particular attention will be paid at issues related to the juridical and normative framework for a traceability legislation for each country involved and to rules on collecting wild truffles in Europe. The research capacities will be strengthened through the exchange of knowledge and expertise on a shared research and training program providing a stronger transnational cooperation and better connections between actors committed to research and production on the truffles value chain. The involvement of Non-Academic Organisations will ease the sharing of knowledge and ideas from research to all levels of the truffle value chain. The joint Intersectoral and Interdisciplinary exchange program will involve 17 Academic and Non-Academic Beneficiaries and Partners and will be performed through a series of short-and long-term periods of staff exchanges. The program will run over 4 years thus allowing the broad portfolio of exchanges to be performed. The planned program of secondments is extensive and involves a range of scientific activities from technical skills exchange and training, to methodological development and planning of future new research.