CURRENT LINES IN THE RESEARCH INTO TOMATO TO PROCESSING IN THE WORLD, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SSICA OBJECTIVES FOR THE FIRST YEARS OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM

• structural, for instance the absolute debut on the world-wide scene of new important realites, which were previously completely non-existent (China, Chile, Brazil, India) with a constant increase the pro-capita compsumption at the world level, of tomatoes and tomato products.
• specific to the agricultural production, with the changes in the varietal landscape proposed and the massive introduction of hybrids, the structural changes of agricultural plants with the all-important introduction of mechanisation in cultivation and harvest, the spread of production in new areas (just think of Italy, where Campania traditional production dropped to less than 1/8 over 15 years, whereas production in Puglia passed, in little less than 10 years, from 200.000 to 2.200.000 tons),
• specific of the processing technologies, with important process innovations (aseptic packaging systems, new thermal system for hot-breaking enzyme inactivation and microbial inactivation, juice extraction, juice refining and fruit peeling systems), product innovation (new proposals for crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, pizza topping, etc.. traditional-type products proposed in an innovative packaging way, privileging service convenience), innovation in process management (important entry of electronics in processing carrying out, controlling and monitoring; application of HACCP system and ISO 9000 standards to guarantee product safety and quality, according to the logic of a control based on trust and on the knowledge of critical points, the careful recording of preventive measures and of the corrective actions required;
• specific of the distribution sector, with the development of new packaging types both for inter-industrial trades and for final marketing (flexible packaging of large, medium and small capacity, increase of the request by the catering world, improvement of nontraditional packaging).

On the contrary, research activity, at least that non-competitive supporting the sector, slowed down in this period and rarefied, which is, under certain points of view difficult to understand: The production of scientific and technological literature was certainly much more abundant (and not only in quantitative terms) during the '50–'70's period than in the last 20 years. Genetic improvement and, in general, agricultural research was dealt with almost uniquely by the private research, to the support of mostly commercial requirements; technological research has became almost exclusively description and attempt to verify the proposals of the plant engineering sector.

Now it seems that the period of chronological transition from the second to the third millenium coincides with a renewed interest, by the researcher, in tomatoes and certainly the sector which can be the object of investigation are very large and of great interest. What seems to positively characterise this new climate and which deserves particular attention is that research and experimentation seem to take the role of main characters of a new attempt to solve, in the respect of mutual requirements, the traditional conflicts between the world of production and that of processing.

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