New Project in Greece Aims to Decrypt Domestic Olive Cultivars
Greece seeks to analyze the genome of olives to safekeep its cultivars and make better products.
Jan. 10, 2018
By Costas VasilopoulosThe 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.
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.
Related Articles
Dec. 15, 2021
Biodiversity Project Expands Beyond Spain
More than 750 Mediterranean olive farmers across four countries have applied to join the Olivares Vivos project, which succeeded in increasing biodiversity in Andalusian olive groves.
May. 20, 2022
Oleotourism Begins to Sprout in Greece
Mill tours, virtual harvests and high-profile tasting events are becoming increasingly common in Greece.
Feb. 28, 2022
Greece Registers Four PDO and PGI Olive Oils as Intellectual Property
The Greek extra virgin olive oils were registered with an international organization that protects the product from imitation and counterfeiters in 56 countries.
Dec. 7, 2021
Producers on Crete Look to DNA Analysis to Add Value
Local producers have joined forces with scientists In Chania, Crete, to identify, analyze and transfer the DNA identity of olive oil from the field to the bottle, achieving authenticity and traceability for their local products.
Aug. 10, 2022
An Olive Tree Garden of Peace is Innagurated on Crete
The grove comprises 21 olive varieties from countries around the world. Its creators hope it fosters a sense of peace and community among olive-producing nations.
Sep. 9, 2022
Two major studies in the United States and Italy link premature death and colorectal cancer to highly processed food consumption.
May. 3, 2022
Campaign in Crete Urges Hospitality Establishments to Choose Local Olive Oils
Officials and olive oil professionals on the island want to encourage food entrepreneurs to use locally-produced olive oil in taverns, restaurants and hotels.
Feb. 16, 2022
Health and Sustainability in the Spotlight at 3rd Yale Symposium
The symposium brought professionals from across the industry together to discuss how to better communicate olive oil's health and environmental benefits to consumers.