The locality of Cifuentes has been this Thursday the meeting point for specialists, producers, and agents of the sector in a day focused on truffle cultivation. The event has been driven by the Apicultural and Agro-environmental Research Center of Marchamalo, integrated into the Regional Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Research and Development of Castilla-La Mancha (Iriaf), with the collaboration of the City Council of Cifuentes.
At the inauguration, the director of Iriaf, José Luis Tenorio, emphasized the relevance that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development grants to truffle cultivation, a crop with the capacity to diversify agricultural productions, energize the economy, and promote population retention in rural areas.
According to the regional Executive, during the day various issues related to research, the health status of plantations, marketing, and the culinary use of truffles have been addressed, providing a global perspective on the challenges and opportunities that this sector offers.
The program included a presentation on new control strategies for L. cinnamomeus, known as the truffle beetle, by Ana Morton from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, as well as an intervention focused on the marketing of truffles, given by Javier Acedo from the company Trufas Alonso S.L.
Next, a round table was held in which, alongside Ana Morton and Javier Acedo, Mario de Lucas from Grupo Lino; Cristóbal Malo, president of the Association of Truffle Collectors and Growers of Castilla-La Mancha; and Alfredo Chevarría from the General Directorate of Natural Environment and Biodiversity of the Ministry of Sustainable Development participated.
The day concluded with a practical demonstration on the use of truffles in cooking, led by Mario de Lucas, bringing the public closer to the multiple gastronomic possibilities of this product. The coordination of the activity was carried out by José Fernando Viana López from the Apicultural and Agro-environmental Research Center of Marchamalo-Iriaf.