During the meeting of the European Contact Group on Chestnut, held in Ourense (Spain) last 11th and 12th of March 2010, CASTANEA - European Chestnut Network has been joined by some new Spanish and Portuguese members, who contribute to consolidate and enlarge the basis of the Association and its European relevance.

The new professional and producers associations who have joined the network are:

• PROAGROSILGA - Associacion de Productores y exportadores de productos agrosilvestres de Galizia
• ARATM - Associação Regional da Agricultura Das Terras de Montenegro em Portugal
• Plataforma de productores de castana de Andalucia
• MESA del Castaño de El Bierzo

In France the representative of the Network, as supporting member, is:

• Union Interprofessionnelle Châtaigne Périgord - Limousin Midi Pyrénées

The new members testify the great interest in the reinforcement and improvement of the European Chestnut Network, in order to be able to meet next years' commitments at every level in supporting European chestnut production.