Support for the Regeneration of Monumental Olive Groves: Alberami Project Secures Funding

We’re pleased to announce that Alberami has been selected as one of the winners of the NBFC_S8_PMI2 national grant, promoted by the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) under the European NextGenerationEU (PNRR) program.

Our project, BIODIV-OMP – Monumental Olive Groves of Puglia Biodiversity Project, has secured public funding to implement Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) aimed at:

  • Regenerating the soil
  • Enhancing biodiversity
  • Protecting one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic agricultural ecosystems: the monumental olive groves of Puglia, currently under threat from Xylella fastidiosa.

With BIODIV-OMP, we aim to transform the unique landscape of Puglia’s ancient olive groves into a true Living Lab for climate adaptation, ecological restoration, and rural innovation—through an advanced integration of nature-based solutions and next-generation monitoring technologies.

Core Activities

  • On-farm production and application of compost tea, made from local composts (olive pomace and urban organic waste) and enriched with native microbial communities, to improve soil health and increase plant resilience to environmental stress.
  • Microbial biodiversity monitoring in soils and plants using DNA metabarcoding, allowing for detailed analysis of microbial communities before and after intervention to assess ecological impact and functionality.
  • Use of PlantVoice sensors to track real-time sap flow and physiological responses in olive trees, integrating environmental and biological data for adaptive and preventive management.
  • Survey of spontaneous vegetation and cover crops, focusing on herbaceous species with ecosystem service, food, or medicinal value, and assessing their role in ecosystem recovery.
  • Impact analysis and modeling, to validate the effectiveness of the interventions in terms of biodiversity, soil health, environmental resilience, and socioeconomic benefits.
  • Technical training and knowledge transfer, including the development of operational guidelines, field days, and training sessions for farmers, technicians, and local stakeholders.

Our Scientific and Technical Partners

BIODIV-OMP is the result of collaboration between top-tier scientific and technical experts in microbiology, regenerative agriculture, and precision monitoring technologies.

  • CREA – Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Italy’s leading agro-food research institute, will coordinate microbiological and experimental activities related to compost tea production and application.
  • The project is supported by Dr. Massimo Zaccardelli (ResearchGate), a leading international expert in soil fertility and agronomic use of compost teas, with over 150 scientific publications and extensive experience in organic and regenerative agriculture.
  • Dr. Thomas Vatrano (thomasvatrano.com), agronomist and advisor for agricultural 4.0 technologies, will oversee the implementation of the PlantVoice sensor-based monitoring system and the development of a data-driven agronomic decision model.
  • Dr. Sumer Alali (ResearchGate), microbiologist specializing in functional biodiversity and plant-soil interactions, will lead the genetic data analysis (DNA metabarcoding) to assess microbial community shifts and soil biological quality.

Location

The project begins on 125 hectares of monumental olive groves in the Ostuni (BR) area, close to our operational headquarters. Fieldwork started in April and will continue until the end of November 2025.

Why This Project Matters

For Alberami, this project is more than a public recognition—it’s a powerful confirmation of the path we’ve taken since the inception of our model.

We’re proud to contribute to the protection of a unique agricultural and cultural heritage through an innovative, collaborative, and deeply local approach.

BIODIV-OMP allows us to combine scientific research, nature-based solutions, and regenerative agriculture in a context we know intimately—and consider home: the monumental olive landscapes of Puglia.

Bringing innovation and regeneration right here, where the land most urgently needs care and vision, is our way of giving tangible shape to our idea of sustainability—not only for the climate, but for the communities and farming systems that live and endure every day.

Most importantly, this project represents a model that can be replicated in other Mediterranean regions—and beyond—where historically rich and biologically valuable ecosystems face increasing pressures from climate change and biodiversity loss.

BIODIV-OMP is our way of building local solutions with global ambition.