Italy’s farmers turn to cow dung to save beloved olive trees

As disease threatens the olive oil industry in Puglia, scientists hope to revive a traditional remedy

Ciccio Manelli, 81, who owns hundreds of ancient olive trees in the southern Italian province of Brindisi, burst into tears when contemplating the prospect of his precious trees being uprooted.

"My life is being destroyed," he said. "An infected olive tree was found on another farmer's land and now they want to come and uproot mine, even if they're not sick. I grew up among these fields. These trees are my family."