Greece seeks to analyze the genome of olives to safekeep its cultivars and make better products.
The first large-scale endeavor to identify the genome of Greek olive cultivars is about to commence. The project is part of the Iconic Initiatives program supervised by the General Secretariat of Research and Technology of Greece. The program includes actions for three vital sectors of the agricultural economy of the country — olives, honey, and grapes.
The traceability of the descent of the varieties is very important because it will enable us to put a label on them useful for marketing purposes.- Giorgos Chourdakis, Spokesperson, Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation
The aim is to fully decrypt and analyze the genetic material of domestic olive varieties in order to track the genre and descent of the cultivars and preserve different clones by documenting and safeguarding their structure. This will hopefully lead to branded products with a competitive advantage compared to rival products in the market.
‘Olive Routes’ is the program’s action for olives and the first of the three to begin.
A network of academic and research institutes in the field of molecular biology and genetic engineering will be created and assigned with the task to identify and record the genetic material of domestic cultivars down to a molecular level.
By employing advanced scientific methods, the researchers will analyze the genetic code of olive trees toward achieving traceability of the cultivars and an explicit view of their special characteristics.
All recorded varieties will be registered in the database of plant varieties of the European Union and new tools will be used by scientists to improve products and better understand their links to human well-being and longevity.
Giorgos Chourdakis, the office manager of the Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation, in an interview with a Greek agricultural newspaper, stressed the importance of the project in terms of marketing and branding.
“The traceability of the descent of the varieties is very important because it will enable us to put a label on them useful for marketing purposes. The plan is for every product to have a brand name,” he said.
Chourdakis then described the effects of the project from a nutritional point of view: “The special characteristics and qualities of the products pinpointed by the research could be printed on their packages. Potentially, we could achieve a health claim for some of the products and this will be accomplished only by applying modern scientific methods in the agro-food sector.”
The program will aim to highlight the qualities of the commodities and create added value, providing at the same time a framework for an improved production pattern. A budget of €5 million ($6 million) is available for the initial phase of the program that is expected to take up to two years to be completed.
More articles on: olive oil research, Greece, olive varieties
Apr. 9, 2024
Processed Foods Associated with Negative Health Outcomes, Study Finds
Consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with a greater risk of more than 30 negative health outcomes.
Dec. 14, 2023
Farmers in Greece Call for Subsidies Amid Low Yields
A steep drop in production has led the country’s table olive and oil producers to protests, asking for financial aid of €200 per stremma to be granted to all olive farmers.
Apr. 30, 2024
Greek Court Rules Kalamon Olives May Use Kalamata Brand
The supreme court rejected an appeal by Messenia-based growers that only they could use the Kalamata branding, an appellation worth €200 million in exports.
Jul. 25, 2023
Patients Respond to Nutrition Guidance Via Telehealth, Study Shows
Intervention through telehealth can positively complement face-to-face care in sustaining dietary and lifestyle changes.
Sep. 13, 2023
Researchers Use AI to Identify the Olive Oil Compounds that Affect Alzheimer’s
Using a machine learning algorithm, researchers identified ten compounds in extra virgin olive oil that act like pharmaceutical treatments for dementia.
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.
Jul. 8, 2024
Bricks Made with Olive Pits Reduce Carbon Footprint of Buildings, Study Finds
A new study has shown that olive pit waste can effectively reduce energy usage in buildings, demonstrating how the circular economy can be applied to the construction sector.
Nov. 1, 2023
Study Shows Benefits of EVOO Supplementation in Male Athletes
Olive oil supplementation increases testosterone levels while reducing stress hormones in male athletes.