On the hills of Gubbio, in the heart of Upper Umbria—where the landscape is proud and traditions are rooted in a millenary history—the Consortium for Olive and Oil Biodiversity was born. It represents the guardian of a genetic, agricultural, and cultural heritage unique in the world. Established with the goal of protecting, enhancing, and passing down the biological wealth of the Gubbio area and Umbria, the Consortium brings together custodian farmers, producers, and institutions in a strategic alliance for sustainability. The mission is to save historic local varieties from extinction, securing a future for quality agriculture and promoting slow, conscious, and environmentally respectful tourism.
Silvano Di Murro of Gubbio is a custodian farmer from Gubbio, a co-founder, and a key figure of the National Olive Biodiversity Consortium alongside Pierfrancesco Saladino of Amelia, working together to enhance the historic olive heritage. The farm manages its operations certified for the protection of agro-biodiversity. It recovers ancient varieties, saving several native Umbrian olive varieties from extinction, including Borgiona, Tonda Gentile, Coroncina, Raio, and Limona.
Institutional Support: The activity is supported by the 3A-PTA Technology Park, the Umbrian regional body that implements biodiversity protection laws.
The Pillars:
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Protection of Native Varieties: We safeguard historic local cultivars and forgotten fruits at risk of disappearing, preserving Umbria’s rural identity.
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Sustainable Agriculture: We promote organic and integrated low-impact farming techniques capable of regenerating the soil.
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Culture and Territory: We support scientific research and outreach, educating new generations on the invaluable worth of agricultural and food biodiversity.
The oils falling under the protection activities of the Consortium for Olive and Oil Biodiversity (founded and directed by the Gubbio olive grower Silvano Di Murro alongside Pierfrancesco Saladino) focus on the recovery, safeguard, and commercial enhancement of rare native varieties and historic single-varietals from the Umbrian territory.
Specifically, the production linked to Silvano Di Murro’s olive biodiversity work on the slopes of Montelovesco in Gubbio includes:
1. Single-Varietal Oils from Recovered Native Cultivars The core of the Consortium’s project involves isolating and processing historic local olives in purity, which are often threatened with extinction. Among the main varieties cultivated and transformed are:
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Borgiona: A historic cultivar typical of the Upper Tiber Valley and the Gubbio area, featuring a unique aromatic profile.
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Gentile Grande: An ancient local variety preserved for its distinct organoleptic properties.
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Limona: A rare native Umbrian olive characterized by fresh, distinct notes reminiscent of citrus scents—a project/challenge created with Saverio Pandolfi and Roberto Mariotti.
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Raio (or Rajo): A historic Umbrian cultivar (also typical of the southern part of the region, linked to the other co-founder Saladino) with a very high polyphenol content.
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Pocciolo: A local olive variety typical of Central Italy, recovered with Giorgio Pannelli.
2. Commercial Selections and Mountain Blends Alongside the research work of the Umbria Biodiversity network, the labels produced and distributed on the market include single-cultivar and multi-cultivar lines:
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Olio Di Murro (EVO Line): The main commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oil line, sourced from hillside organic crops resilient to climate change.
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Olio dei Monti: A specific selection of high-altitude oils (produced on the hillside slopes of Gubbio) offered both in purity (single-varietals of Limona, Borgiona, Pocciolo, Coroncina, Raio) and in refined farm blends designed to elevate biodiversity on the plate.
Silvano Di Murro’s new brand is Sinfonia a Concerto. The mission is to save historic and genetically unique global varieties, providing a conservation bank to create the new plants of the future while offering a unique, slow, and conscious tourism experience rooted in respect for the past for a new future.
CONTACTS:
CONSORZIO PER LA BIODIVERSITÀ DELL’OLIVO E DELL’OLIO S.C.A.R.L
Frazione Montelovesco 52,
06024, Gubbio (Pg)
