Our connection with OLIVAMI stems from two profound motivations:

• supporting the rebirth of Salento's olive trees after the devastation of Xylella
• offsetting, from an ESG perspective, the natural resources used for the production of Antiquus facsimiles

A wound still open

In 2013, in the heart of Lower Salento, olive trees began to dry up suddenly. It was the beginning of CoDiRo (Olive Quick Decline Syndrome), caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, carried by the so-called "spittlebug," an insect that transmits the infection from tree to tree. Its name derives from the fact that it produces a foam in which it lives, protects itself from evaporation, and hides.

The disease spreads through the plant's lymphatic vessels, creating a dense gelatinous mucilage that obstructs the vessels, preventing sap and other nutrients from flowing through the plant's lymphatic vessels, which are essential for hydrating the foliage. By blocking nutrients, the bacterium causes the plant's death.
It appears that this bacterium was imported from Central America to Europe, from Costa Rica to Salento, through ornamental plants and coffee plants.
Unfortunately, it was only the beginning.

There was a second wave in 2015 that struck the provinces of Brindisi and Lecce. Now Xylella is still advancing northward and has reached Fasano.

Economic and Landscape Impact

The Xylella has erased centuries-old olive trees, the natural and symbolic heritage of Salento. The landscape, once green and lush, appears desolate today in many areas, almost lunar.

The economic consequences have been devastating: the death of the plants has eliminated production, destroying agricultural capital in just a few years and severely affecting farmers, workers, and oil mills.

The first solutions adopted were drastic:

• use of insecticides to target the insect vector of the bacterium,
• forced uprooting of olive trees, even healthy ones, to contain the contagion.

Compensation has been provided for uprooting plants, whether diseased or healthy, while financial penalties are imposed on those who oppose.

From an aesthetic and landscape perspective, seeing post-uprooting lands or olive trees disfigured by the disease is devastating, terrible.

The economic consequences are even worse.

Uprooting or disease causes immediate loss of capital, of the plant, loss of revenue from olive sales for approximately 5 years, while fixed costs continue to weigh. Seasonal hiring is blocked and many employees lose their jobs. These losses can only be partially compensated by public compensation.

Indeed, a young olive tree, just planted, follows this growth pattern:

• In the first 2–3 years it grows mainly in height and roots, so it produces no olives or very few.
• From the 4th–5th year it begins to bear its first fruits, still in reduced quantities.
• From the 7th–8th year it reaches significant and more consistent production.
• From 10 years onward it can be considered in full production, with stable yield (even for centuries, if well cared for).

These timeframes depend on factors such as variety, soil, irrigation, pruning, and climate, but it is easy to understand how the economic consequences affect farmers and the population for many years.

Solutions: the Olivami project

The OLIVAMI Association promotes the adoption of Salento olive trees as a concrete response to the devastation brought by Xylella. It is a new form of sustainable and participatory olive cultivation that allows anyone to adopt one or more Salento olive trees from a distance, supporting the reforestation of the Salento territory.

Olive varieties resistant to Xylella have been chosen, Leccino and Favolosa, which will be cared for by the companies that are part of the Olivami Association.

What the adoption will produce:

• It will restore work to more than 5,000 farmers who have suffered the consequences of the Xylella epidemic
• It will leave future generations a greener and more productive Salento
• It will reduce CO2 emissions
• It will help the recovery of Italian extra virgin olive oil consumption

With the first useful harvest, the OLIVAMI association will gift you, as a sign of gratitude for your adoption, 1 liter of artisanal extra virgin olive oil of certified origin and quality.

The Contribution of the Antiquus Community, its Own Olive Grove

Antiquus believes in OLIVAMI and has chosen to plant its own grove, destined to grow over the years thanks to the support of our community:

https://www.olivami.com/giardini-aziendali/antiquus-srl/

With us, entities of primary importance have joined such as Banca Sella, BNP Paribas banks, two important Romagna companies TozziGreen, Italian Exhibition Group (Rimini Fair) and the technology giant Xerox.

For Antiquus, this project means:

• partially offsetting the natural resources used in the production of facsimiles (paper and CO₂)
• giving a concrete signal of attention toward the environment and future generations
• making our manuscripts ESG compliant, combining art, history and sustainability for our important community.

"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that has made your rose so important." The little prince

As in the tale of The Little Prince, where the time devoted to a single rose makes it unique and irreplaceable, the olive trees of Salento also need care, patience, and dedication. They are not simple fruit trees, but symbols of strength and rebirth and of deep connections with the land.

Planting one means accepting not to see its fruits immediately, but to trust in time, knowing that one day it will provide shade, oil, and roots that sink deep into history. It is a gesture that goes beyond agriculture: it is love for the territory, as the little prince teaches with his rose.

Antiquus not only preserves the memory of great manuscripts, but also contributes to the rebirth of Salento's olive trees. With each work you support the OLIVAMI project: art, history, and nature returning to live together.