SUPRAOLIVO presents itself to the sector at an event on the future of olive cultivation

Following the introductory webinar on 17 September, SUPRAOLIVO will bring producers, businesses, researchers and institutional representatives together in Santiago de Compostela on 24 September to address the challenges and opportunities of olive cultivation. The event will also provide an opportunity to learn from OLIGALICIA and other innovation projects related to the sustainable use of resources and the enhancement of by-products.

The SUPRAOLIVO Operational Group – Innovation for the sustainable and adapted development of olive cultivation in Galicia, Castilla y León and Andalusia will hold an event on 24 September at the Hotel OCA Puerta del Camino in Santiago de Compostela, dedicated to exploring the development potential of this crop and some of the lines of innovation that can contribute to its sustainability and profitability.

The event will continue the SUPRAOLIVO introductory webinar of 17 September, at which the project’s objectives, lines of work and participating organisations will be presented. The event on the 24th will build on that presentation and place the project in a broader context, sharing experiences and knowledge among producers, businesses, cooperatives and research centres.

The opening, scheduled for 10:00, will be attended by the Regional Minister for Rural Affairs, María José Gómez, together with representatives of AGACA, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, OLIGALICIA and Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne.

From OLIGALICIA’s experience to SUPRAOLIVO

Coordinated by AGACA, SUPRAOLIVO works in three territories with different production characteristics and experiences: Galicia, Castilla y León and Andalusia. Its main lines of action include the agronomic adaptation of native olive varieties, the physicochemical and sensory characterisation of oils and assessment of the sustainability and profitability of cultivation.

The project incorporates the experience and lessons learned from OLIGALICIA, recently completed, which advanced knowledge of olive cultivation in Galicia by studying aspects such as varietal adaptation, agronomic and territorial conditions, productivity, costs and quality.

SUPRAOLIVO now goes a step further by expanding its scope of work and cooperation to three autonomous communities. Comparing different production conditions will generate new knowledge and advance cultivation models adapted to the characteristics of each territory.

One of the event’s presentations will specifically be devoted to presenting the varietal, agronomic and territorial lessons learned in OLIGALICIA.

Innovation, resource use and the circular economy

The event will also provide an opportunity to learn about other supra-regional innovation projects involving AGACA and related to the sustainable use of resources.

One of them will be ULEX_AE, which works on enhancing gorse (Ulex spp.) to produce flour for animal feed and wood chips for energy use, while also exploring its potential contribution to fire prevention.

OLI4FOOD will also be presented. It focuses on expanding the potential uses of olive cultivation beyond oil through the enhancement of by-products and development of functional foods.

The programme will conclude with a round table devoted to a particularly relevant issue for the development of olive cultivation in Galicia: “Olive cultivation on acidic soils: difficulties, solutions and possibilities”. Specialists and representatives of the production sector will take part to analyse the particularities of these soils and the alternatives available.

Programme

09:30 h | Reception and registration of participants

10:00 h | Institutional opening

10:30 h | SUPRAOLIVO: agronomic adaptation of native olive varieties, physicochemical and sensory characterisation of oils, and assessment of sustainability and profitability in Galicia, Castilla y León and Andalusia
Carlos Ares, managing director of AGACA.

11:00 h | OLIGALICIA: varietal, agronomic and territorial lessons learned in Galicia
José Carlos Barrio, researcher at Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne.

11:30 h | ULEX_AE: enhancement of gorse (Ulex spp.) to produce flour for animal feed and energy wood chips, and its contribution to fire prevention
César Iglesias, Fundación IN&FIAR.

12:00 h | Coffee break

12:30 h | OLI4FOOD: Olive cultivation beyond oil: enhancement of by-products and development of functional foods
Roberto Bermúdez, Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne.

13:00 h | Round table: “Olive cultivation on acidic soils: difficulties, solutions and possibilities”

Participants:
Jesús Ángel Blanco, manager of Soleae.
Xoán Couto, president of PROLIGAL S. Coop. Galega.
Raúl de la Rosa, agricultural engineer with a PhD from IAS-CSIC.

Moderator: Lucio García, agricultural engineer with a PhD from Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne.

14:15 h | Closing

14:30 h | Showcooking and networking lunch with Galician EVOO
Activity by specific invitation.

On-site and online participation

The event will take place on 24 September, from 09:30 to 14:30, at the Hotel OCA Puerta del Camino in Santiago de Compostela, and can also be followed online.

Participation is free with prior registration. Places for on-site attendance are limited, while those who choose the online option will be able to follow the presentations via Zoom.

Registration: bit.ly/cultivoolivar

SUPRAOLIVO: Innovation for the sustainable and adapted development of olive cultivation in Galicia, Castilla y León and Andalusia (REGAGE 25e00048407852). Innovation project of general interest under supra-regional Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (AEI-Agri), within the framework of Spain’s CAP Strategic Plan (PEPAC). The Directorate-General for Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-food Training (DGDRIFA) is the authority responsible for implementing this aid. Funds from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (80 %) and the General State Administration (20 %). Total project budget: 581.921,37 €. Total grant: 581.921,37 €.