Italian Oyster Fest

PROGRAM:  

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023  

• CALATA PAITA, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM: Opening of oyster farmers' stands and service in combination with Italian DOCG wines offered by producers
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Michelin-starred Chefs from Liguria interpret oysters in cuisine: guest Giuseppe Ricchebuono, chef from Vescovado
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Presentation by the A.M.A. Association and ongoing initiatives for the mollusk farming sector
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: In-depth discussion on "Regional programming and future strategies for the fishing sector – P.O. FEAMPA 2021-2027".

Speakers:  

• Lara Servetti, Legacoop Pesca
• Daniela Borriello, Coldiretti Impresa Pesca
• Augusto Comes, Confcooperative - Federcoopesca
• Mirvana Feletti, Regione Liguria

Moderated by Fabio Bongiorni, foodteller

• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM: OFFICIAL INAUGURATION AND INAUGURAL TALK
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Educational tasting and pairing workshop for oysters, wines, craft beers, and cocktails: in collaboration with Ligurian Sommelier associations.
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM: OYSTER TALK – Talk show with guests and interviews hosted by Fabio Bongiorni. Presentations and tastings of mussel products, typical local products, Ligurian wines, experts, nutritionists, representatives of Category Associations, and Institutions.
• CRUISE TERMINAL CONFERENCE ROOM, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: The oyster speaks Italian: institutions alongside oyster farmers. Political-commercial conference: an event to delve into scenarios, expectations, and the market, tax regime, issues, and proposals. Italian Oysters Quality Mark.

Speakers:

• Enrico Lupi, President of the Chamber of Commerce Riviere di Liguria
• Pierluigi Peracchini, Mayor of La Spezia
• Mario Sommariva, President of the Port Authority of Eastern Ligurian Sea
• Alessandro Piana, Vice President, Councilor for Agriculture, Livestock, Hunting and Fishing, Aquaculture, Liguria Region
• Maria Grazia Frijia, Member of Parliament
• Mattia Rossi, President of Legacoop Liguria
• Paolo Varella, President of Cooperativa Mitilicoltori Spezzini

Closing remarks:  

• Edoardo Rixi, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Patrizio
• Giacomo La Pietra, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests

Moderated by journalist Francesco Selvi

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023

• CRUISE TERMINAL CONFERENCE ROOM, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: OYSTER FARMING IN ITALY: A TRADE BETWEEN INNOVATION, HISTORY, AND ENVIRONMENT. Scientific-cultural conference on the vocation of Italian oyster farming: sustainability, climate change, sea care, production impact. Introduction by Dr. Giuseppe Prioli, President of Siram – Italian Society for Applied Research on Mollusks Speakers:  
  • "The Eco-Système Conchylicole Français," Jean-Charles de Zutter, CEO of Gruppo Famille Beaulieu
  • "The environmental sustainability of Italian oyster farming," Prof. Elena Tamburini, Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara
  • "First manual of Italian oyster farming," Edoardo Turolla, Ecological Institute of the Po Delta
  • "The reconstitution of natural flat oyster banks," Saša Raicevich, Ispra
  • "Updates on the hygiene and health control of oysters," Alessia Vetri and Giuseppe Arcangeli, IZSVE
  • "Smart Bay S.Teresa, a Nature-Human ecosystem," Dr. Chiara Lombardi, ENEA researcher
  • "Technical-economic analysis of Italian oyster farming for market development" Prof. Alessandra Castellini and Prof. Alessandro Ragazzoni, Department of Agri-Food Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna
  • "The productive-commercial evolution of Italian oyster farming, a behind-the-scenes view" Armando Tandoi, Oyster Oasis "Research, cooperation, and environment for the future of the oyster supply chain," intervention by Cristian Maretti, national president of Legacoop Agroalimentare

Speakers:  

• Giovanni Toti, President of the Liguria Region
• Marco Campomenosi, Member of the European Parliament

Conclusions by Paolo Varrella, President of Cooperativa Mitilicoltori Associati La Spezia  

Moderated by journalist Francesco Selvi

• CALATA PAITA, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM: Opening of oyster farmers' stands and service in combination with Italian DOCG wines offered by producers
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Family workshops – "Sustainable breeding of bivalves to reduce marine litter," an in-depth look at Sustainable Development with the CEA of the Cinque Terre National Park
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Oyster shucking workshop and tasting techniques, by Paolo Varella
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Presentation review of participating oyster farmers from all over Italy and abroad: storytelling, people, product, wine pairings
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Michelin-starred Chefs from Liguria interpret oysters in cuisine: guest Andrea Besana from Andreè in La Spezia
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Mixology Show to launch the signature Oyster Fest cocktail paired with oysters
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM: OYSTER TALK – Talk show with guests and interviews hosted by Fabio Bongiorni Presentations and tastings of mussel products, typical local products, Ligurian wines, experts, nutritionists, representatives of Category Associations, and Institutions.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2023

• CALATA PAITA, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM: Opening of oyster farmers' stands and service in combination with Italian DOCG wines offered by producers
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Family workshops – "Sustainable breeding of bivalves to reduce marine litter," an in-depth look at Sustainable Development with the CEA of the Cinque Terre National Park
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Michelin-starred Chefs from Liguria interpret oysters in cuisine: guest Jorg Giubbani from Orto by Jorg Giubbani – Villa Edera in Moneglia
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Tasting course to understand the product's specificities and promote the culture of "raw," with the involvement of veterinarians, producers, chefs, and sommeliers
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Presentation review of participating oyster farmers from all over Italy and abroad: storytelling, people, product, Italian wine pairings
• ARENA OYSTER SHOW, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Educational workshop by SLOW FOOD, La Spezia Convivium. Community, tradition, and health, Slow commitments for the territory: sustainability and quality. Followed by a tasting comparing all Italian oysters with pairings.

Laboratory conductors:

• Sandra Ansaldo, Trustee of the Convivium of La Spezia,
• Paolo Varrella, Slow Food Community representative of La Spezia mussel farmers
• Grazia Solazzi with Barbara Pettinati, Steering Committee Slow Food La Spezia and Slow Fish Italia network.  

The event program is coordinated and hosted by Fabio Bongiorni, foodteller.