The OliveOilMedNet project marks one and a half years of progress toward a more authentic and sustainable olive oil sector. The project, in which 10 partners participates grom 7 Mediterranean countries, is titled “Mediterranean Network for the Promotion of Sustainability and Authenticity in the Olive Oil Sector.”
Below are the main achievements of the project to date:
- Completion of the Pilot Implementation Methodology
- Authenticity Methodology
This focuses on differentiating olive oil varieties and identifying regional characteristics using chemical and organoleptic analysis data. These data will feed into an artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to support authenticity verification. - Ecological Cultivation and Production Methodology
This focuses on implementing and promoting a set of innovative sustainable management solutions across the following areas:
– Sustainable olive tree cultivation
– Olive oil production in mills
– Use of by-products and waste in olive groves
– Socioeconomic and environmental assessment tools
- Strengthening Olive Oil Authenticity Certification
Chemical and organoleptic analyses have been completed on monovarietal extra virgin olive oil samples from seven Mediterranean countries. The samples were collected during 2024–2025 from olive growers and mill owners participating in the project’s pilot phase.
- Promoting Sustainable Practices
Project partners collaborated to collect detailed data from selected participants on cultivation, processing, and marketing practices. These data will be used to support the application of sustainable practices in olive cultivation and olive oil production.
The results will feed into the Sustainable Olive Growing and Production Methodology Handbook, which will serve as a foundation for greener and more responsible practices across the Mediterranean region.
- Knowledge Enhancement
Two major events were held in Alentejo, Portugal, in April 2025:
• The 1st Hybrid Peer Learning Event
• The 1st Demonstration Event
The events attracted wide participation from producers, researchers, and stakeholders from ten countries.
The Demonstration Event was held alongside the internationally renowned Ovibeja Award 2025 competition.
- Establishing the Med OliveOilNet Institutional Framework
Significant progress has been made in shaping the institutional framework of the Med OliveOilNet Network, through the preparation of an Action Plan and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), paving the way for long-term collaboration.
Moreover, engagement with stakeholders in the olive oil sector has generated strong interest in joining the network, reinforcing its future sustainability.
The completion of one and a half years of implementation reflects the commitment and collective effort of all project partners. OliveOilMedNet will continue to promote authenticity, sustainability, and innovation in the olive oil sector, contributing to a more transparent, responsible, and sustainable future for Mediterranean olive oil.
The project is co-funded by the Interreg Euro-Med 2021–2027 Programme.
