16th International Phytotechnology Conference in Changsha, China
October 4, 2019
The University of Jaén holds the kick-off meeting of the SUSTAINOLIVE project, a project that stand for the improvement of the sustainability in the olive groves and the management of the by-products of the oil mills.
It took place the 5th-6th of September 2019, with representatives from a total of 22 entities from 6 different countries. The SUSTAINOLIVE project has been selected as part of the European Union Horizon 2020 Framework Program for Research and Innovation with financing of almost 2.1 million euros, and has a term of execution of four years.
Its main goal will be to build research and innovation capacities to develop new knowledge, concepts and innovative solutions based on agroecological concepts and the exchange of knowledge between the main actors in the olive sector. The specific objectives of SUSTAINOLIVE include:
- To integrate ecological, territorial and socio-economic knowledge, to design strategies and methods for managing the cultivation of the olive grove and valuing the by-products of the oil mills so that they are more efficient and sustainable.
- To promote the transfer of knowledge, methods and techniques in alliance with olive growers, responsible for decision making and the olive oil transformation sector and society.
SUSTAINOLIVE is coordinated by the Professor of Ecology of the University of Jaén Roberto García Ruiz and has the participation of researchers from the “Centro de Estudios Avanzados en el Olivar y Aceites de Oliva” and from “Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Ciencias de la Tierra”. The 22 academic and non-academic entities that participate, by countries, are: Spain (Jaén University, IFAPA, IRTA, Pablo de Olavide University, University of Granada, TEKIEROVERDE and the “Denominación de origen Estepa”), Greece (DEMETER, Kalamata Agricultural Cooperative and the NILEAS group), Italy (University of Parma, University of Bologna, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Italian Association of Ecological Production and Coldiretti), Morocco (University of Abdelmalek Essaadi, Association of Olive Oil Producers Tismonine and the Oumnia Cooperative Acorn), Portugal (University of Évora, ICAAM, Esporao Lda and the Center for Studies and Promotion of Olive Oil of Alentejo) and Tunisia (Institute of the Olive grove).
During these days, the different work packages will be presented and the members will be informed of the tasks that they will have to deal with during the 4 years that the project will last.
Regardless from the meeting , It is noteworthy that the PRIMA initiative constitutes a new European commitment to research and innovation in the Mediterranean area, that aims to develop solutions for a more sustainable management of water, agriculture and agrifood chain systems.
The meeting’s programme, minutes, list of participants and photos, as well as the presentations, will be uploaded on the intranet of the project ́s website (under the folder Governance and Minutes).
