The project "Improvement and enhancement of date palms" in the Oasis of Al Jufrah, Libya, launched in May 2009, is funded by the General Directorate of cooperation to the development of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and coordinated by the Istituto Agronomico per the Oltremare of Florence, in collaboration with the Libyan Ministry of Agriculture.
The objective of the project is to support local economic development through measures benefiting producers of quality and preservation of the biodiversity of the region date
The Al Jufrah Oasis are located in the Centre-du-Nord Libya. Over the centuries, these oasis was the junction where the roads of the trans caravan linking the South of the Mediterranean coast met with trade routes linking is to the West, along the 29th parallel.
There are still dozens of local varieties of dates grown in this region today; each variety has its own specificities, capable of incredible even more curious and very sophisticated palate.
In the past, the dates were the ideal food for the desert crossings, energy nomadic travellers and their animals, help them withstand terrible temperatures. Dates were also a valuable, barter is for cereals grown along the coastland.
Dates now account for a perfect breakfast or a light snack. they will also beautifully well with cheese, especially the stronger varieties, such as goat cheese, gorgonzola, or aged sheep's milk cheese.
The dates are rich in sugars and fibres, but have a very low fat content. More importantly, they are very rich in mineral salts, which makes it ideal for athletes as a source of energy available quickly in case of fatigue or physical impairment.
The Al Jufrah date producers sell fresh, untreated, or preserve their products like the dates in a hurry or syrup, vinegar, or candy from their.
A sweet, refreshing and highly nutritional - juice called lagbi - is made from Palm SAP. Lagbi can be caramelized.