FP6 - 505524 TDC-OLIVE: Setting-up a network of Technology Dissemination Centres to optimise SMEs in the olive and olive oil sector

Contacts
Website: www.tdcolive.net
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Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control : Life Science and Food Quality : Vegetable Oil/Fat

Type of Project	Specific Support Action
Contract No	FP6 - 505524
Total Cost	789 KEuro
EC Contribution	789 KEuro
Start Date	10-6-2004
Duration	20 Months

Abstract

Olives and olive oil are known for its beneficial effects on human health, mainly due to its protective action over the skin and cardiovascular and skeletal system. These foods are basic elements in the Mediterranean diet. Countries in this area are not only the main producers but also the ones with most consumers of them. The idea underlying this project is that this source of health should not be restricted to the producers located in the Mediterranean region. In fact, it would be highly recommended that olives and olive oil were part of the regular diet not only in European countries, but also in the whole world. To achieve this goal, the producing companies need to be reinforced, since most of the companies in Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), mainly family companies.

This project stresses the need to reinforce SMEs and is in agreement with the actions detailed in the European Union document Evaluation of the impact of the main market-organization measures in the olive oil sector (1995-2000) and with the result of the last opinion poll carried out by the European Commission to the enterprises managers.

The project is based on the need for a modern SME, to

• have qualified staff,
• employ new technologies
• to access information and, in general, adapt to all the technological innovations
• be concerned in the optimisation of the product quality
• be seriously committed to the treatment, recycling and re-use of all the wastes generated in its activity.

The partners have been carefully chosen attending to the following criteria:

• Countries with the highest number of SMEs belonging to the olive and olive oil sector (Spain, Italy and Greece)
• Countries where the consumption of these products is not widespread and, therefore, they are suitable targets for diffusion.

The main goals are:

• Setting up a European network of Technology Dissemination Centres (TDCs) for table olive processing and olive oil production SMEs
• Promotion of olive oil and table olive consumption in non-Mediterranean European countries
• Improvement through a training program for olive mills and table olive producers aimed at increasing technical competence and competitiveness

The main aim is to create a fluid communication network between all elements involved in the industrial and commercial processes of the sector (from the producer to the consumer) and to reach as many European SMEs as possible in order to assist them.

Coordinator

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Centro de Informacion y Documentacion Cientifica (CINDOC), Spain

Partners

• Sabina Agricola Soc. Coop. Arl, Italy
• Biozoon Gmbh, Germany
• Asociacion Agraria Jovenes Agricultores de Sevilla -Asaja Sevilla, Spain
• Improtechnology Limited, United Kingdom
• Agricultural Cooperative of Agioi Apostoloi Lakonia (Voion), Greece
• Istituto Sperimentale per la Elaiotecnica, Italy
• Bundesansalt Fur Getreide-, Kartoffel- Und Fettforschung, Germany
• Instituto Madrileno de Investigacion Agraria y Alimentaria, Spain
• Alcubilla 2000 Sl, Spain
• Vereins Zur Foerderung des Technologietransfers An Der Hochschule Bremerhaven E.V., Germany
• National Agricultural Research Foundation, Greece
• Unilever Nederland BV, Netherlands

Contacts

Contact

• Rosa DE LA VIESCA / Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - CINDOC Centro de Informacion y Documentacion Cientifica (CINDOC) / SPAIN