The prototype of what is hoped to be an affordable and efficient harvester for Spain’s traditional olive farms has been developed by researchers at the University of Córdoba.
With funding from the Interprofesional del Aceite de Oliva (Interprofessional), they have adapted a citrus canopy shaker from the United States into a towed machine that can shake down, catch, wash and weigh olives, and channel them into a hopper.
Moreover, the apparatus has been designed for use in traditional olive groves, where the use of conventional mechanical harvesters has generally not been feasible.
Interprofessional director Teresa Pérez said the organization had funded the project because “we want to be an engine of innovation in all fields that we consider to be strategic to the olive oil sector — the product and its properties, its health benefits, improvements in production — with the aim of increasing competitiveness.”
“The high cost of harvest is a major weakness of the traditional olive sector so we’ve made it a priority to find a technical solution that makes mechanical harvesting feasible for it.”
Speaking earlier in April at the Estepa Extra Virgin Olive Oil County Festival, in Seville, project leader Professor Jesús Gil Ribes said that one of the highlights of the prototype was its ability to catch the falling fruit.
“Tests have shown that the system is able to intercept up to 90 percent of the olives removed. Most importantly, it achieves a significant cost savings, since the entire process is automated,” he said.
An Interprofessional spokesman told Olive Oil Times the potential retail cost of such a machine was not yet known but the point of the project was to offer an affordable form of mechanization for traditional farms. It was hoped to have a product on the market within two years.
The prototype was able to handle a slight slope, he said. Terraces are common in the often marginally-profitable traditional olive groves of Andalusia.
The Interprofessional is a non-profit official organization which represents all members of Spain’s olive oil sector.
Related Articles
Jun. 25, 2024
WHO Reports Hundreds of Thousands of Annual Deaths in Europe Linked to Ultra-Processed Foods
The World Health Organization accused the food and beverage industry of spreading misinformation and lobbying against public health initiatives.
Nov. 24, 2024
S. American Olive Oil Sector Celebrates Successes and Examines Challenges
Sector professionals gathered in Montevideo, Uruguay for the second Latin American Olive Oil Conference.
Mar. 14, 2024
Authorities in Puglia Confirm Culprit in Olive Tree Devastation
Officials rebuffed a recent study that implied Xylella fastidiosa was not mainly responsible for the millions of ravaged trees.
Nov. 12, 2024
Olive Leaf Moth Threatens Brazilian Crops: Researchers Seek Solutions
Brazilian researchers have discovered a dual solution to combat the olive leaf moth: a new eco-friendly insecticide and the strategic use of local wasp species as natural predators.
May. 7, 2024
Mediterranean Diet and Exercise Associated with Better Gut Health in Older Adults
The study demonstrated these improvements to gut health yielded significant cardiovascular health benefits in older Mediterranean adults.
Jul. 24, 2024
New Process Increases Sustainability, Phenolic Profile of Olive Leaf Extracts
A novel approach does not use harmful chemicals and creates an extract with potential uses in olive oil production and food packaging.
Dec. 19, 2024
Olive Polyphenols Show Promise as Aquaculture Feed Ingredient
A new study demonstrates the benefits of polyphenols derived from olive industry waste in aquacultural feeds.
Feb. 13, 2024
The Role of Gulls in Spreading Olive Seeds Across Balearic Islands
Gulls contributed to the long-distance spread of local olive seeds, facilitating the colonization and expansion of the variety