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Riccagioia Foundation

Project

Olio

OLIOP is dedicated to “frontier” olive cultivation in the interior areas, where, also due to climatic changes, an increasing spread of the olive tree is observed, as in Oltrepò Pavese.

The project transfers the results of research and experimentation to agricultural companies, with particular attention to site selection, varieties resistant to late frosts, local ecotypes, and the mitigation of water stress.

Goal

The objective is to strengthen the technical and operational knowledge and skills of olive growers by promoting innovation, digitalization, and sustainable practices. Demonstration activities will guide companies from proper management of the olive grove to evaluating the quality of the oil, providing concrete tools to address the new production and climatic conditions.

laboratory

Research and innovation in the field

Demonstration activities will allow for the knowledge and comparison of different varieties of olive trees, assessing their adaptability to the local pedoclimatic conditions and valorizing the local ecotypes. Technologies and equipment suitable for hilly terrain will also be tested, such as drones and systems for collecting olives, along with tools for climate monitoring.

solutions

More tools for the olive grower

The project will provide knowledge for managing the main adversities, the use of predictive meteorological models and monitoring systems, as well as for the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. The chemical and sensory analyses of extra virgin olive oil, the procedures for registering local varieties in the National Register of Biodiversity, and the role of the guardian farmer will be examined in depth. A focus will also be placed on the tools for managing and evaluating the economic and financial aspects of the olive-growing activity.

Results

More resilient olive cultivation

Do you want to know more?

OLIOP will contribute to the development of a more conscious, innovative, and sustainable olive cultivation, improving the companies’ skills in choosing sites, varieties, and management techniques.

The valorization of local ecotypes and the quality of the oil can also generate new opportunities for the territory, contributing to the protection of the landscape, the stability of the slopes, and the economic and environmental sustainability of the productions.