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From Igp rocket a natural vasodilator

30 June 2025

2' min read

From rocket waste to obtain raw material for medicines and cosmetics: it will be possible, thanks to the '100% RUCOLA' project, which has seen an entire agricultural chain, the world of research and the Piana del Sele territory working together.

The '100% RUCOLA' project was financed by PSR Campania with 200,000 euro: the research carried out now makes it possible to transform the waste from the processing of the Piana del Sele IGP rocket into erucine through biotechnological processes and encapsulate it in high-value formulations.

The project involved research centres, industry players, and agricultural companies for which new market channels are now opening up.

In other words, it is an innovative circular economy model that combines the use of new technologies, environmental sustainability and local business development.

The Piana del Sele encompasses the municipalities of Battipaglia, Bellizzi, Eboli, Pontecagnano Faiano and Capaccio Paestum, as well as part of the territories of Montecorvino Rovella, Montecorvino Pugliano and Giffoni Valle Piana: here the fourth range pole has developed, a sort of agricultural district specialised in the production of vegetables to be sold already washed and ready for use. The rocket in particular obtained IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) recognition on 27 November 2020, with publication in the European Official Journal. The path to recognition had begun in 2018 and was pursued by a promotion committee, with the support of the Campania Region and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies.

Today, a step forward is being taken to use agricultural waste for pharmaceutical purposes. Erucine, in fact, is a natural medicine that has vasodilatory properties, a kind of cardioaspirin.

The '100% Rucola' project, as mentioned, saw the participation of local companies: it was promoted by the Azienda Agricola Vito Busillo, and other companies collaborated, including Terralavoro Giampaolo, Azienda Agricola Cascone Annamaria, Fondazione Saccone, Eng4Life and the Consorzio di Tutela Rucola della Piana del Sele Igp.

"This opens up an important prospect _ explains Vito Busillo, who is also president of the Consorzio di tutela della rucola della Piana del Sele _ young people in particular are very keen on healthy consumption. A 100% natural supplement will undoubtedly attract them.

The project has a solid scientific basis, on which engineers and doctors from the University of Salerno, coordinated by Professor Gaetano Lamberti, worked. But it also has historical roots, as studies of the nutraceutical properties of rocket can also be found in the works of the Salerno Medical School.