PDO/PGI Extra Virgin Olive Oil and DNA Traceability to ensure Purity

The Olive Oil market is unceasingly growing, expected to reach a value of €17.6 billion by 2030. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) represents an important segment of this industry, well-established and renowned for its health benefits and positive impact on people’s lives. 

Moreover, it hosts two important subcategories: 

1. PDO (products of Protected Designation of Origin) 
2. PGI (products of Protected Geographical Indication)

The PDO/PGI characterization/labeling is profoundly connected to our heritage, culture, and local societies rather than just another EVOO product. According to a 2020 European Commission study, PDO/PGI EVOO reaches €277 million each year, and at present, it is estimated that 133 EVOO from 7 countries exist in the EU. 

EVOO is the cornerstone of the Mediterranean culinary culture and is classified as the primary source of economic income (highly valuable) for our local communities. On top of that, its benefits for human health make its protection and valorization mandatory. This became more evident when an unfortunate fraudulent action took place in 2016 that severely affected its reputation. 

Nevertheless, with climate change (e.g., drought, wildfires, biodiversity bottlenecks), regions that were optimal for olive cultivation in the past are now becoming harsh and more input-demanding areas. DNA-based traceability is a solid solution that ensures the integrity and purity of an EVOO label. Having said that, it truly helps producers to convey to their customers the authentic story of their product (e.g., PDO/PGI EVOO). This solution is based on state-of-the-art technologies involving the unique genetic identity of the orchards. 

DNA coupled with data collection can actively and practically support the conservation and characterization of these important orchards. With their genetic secrets unraveled, we are one step closer to achieving successful planning and optimization of future cultivation. At the same time, it becomes easier to combat and mitigate abiotic (e.g., environmental) and biotic (e.g., Xyllela) threats. 

BioCoS envisions a future where DNA Authentication and Traceability can positively impact society and the environment—supporting local producers in valorizing their produce increasing the value of their varieties while safeguarding agrobiodiversity. Olive Oil DNA Traceability is the first building block upon which a true and meaningful sustainable production can set its foundations while fulfilling our moral obligation to preserve biodiversity. 

A DNA Traceable EVOO represents a strong asset of direct marketing and branding from the company to its customers. DNA traceability connects three pivotal elements for the success of a brand: transparency – trust – and differentiation. This trinity represents the golden ticket for a sustainable protocol and profile. But let’s break it down. Transparency DNA verifies the authenticity and integrity of an EVOO label. Since we can apply this solution along the entire product supply chain, this is translated as label transparent EVOO to the consumers. Therefore, the latter can rest assured that they get exactly what they paid for. Moreover, the company itself can be protected from any potential fraudulent actions or even unintentional introduction of substandard batches in its supply chain. Hence, the risk is reduced while integrity increases, translating into minimum losses.

Consumer trust

Consumer trust represents the firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone whom confidence is placed. 

Nevertheless, building consumer trust is one of the most significant and yet fragile components of successful branding. In the olive oil industry, consumers tend to lean on increased awareness yet are characterized by an impassioned attitude regarding food transparency and product authenticity. A study revealed that it takes only a verbal implication of potential olive oil fraud for consumers to significantly reduce their valuation of this product, even up to 50%. 

This is particularly true for high-end EVOO labels. A DNA-traceable EVOO can strengthen the company–consumer bond of trust, while when coupled with additional information, consumers can make more conscious purchasing decisions. 

Distinctive Enough? 

The solution of DNA-based traceability helps olive oil companies to be different from their competitors. Being distinctive in today’s highly competitive market requires uniqueness and meaningful innovation. Thus, by providing the DNA identity of the final product, a company is already halfway there. This can be especially appealing to consumers whose purchasing drive depends on the product’s sustainability and their social responsibility for environmental issues. 

Enhancing Olive Oil Traceability 

The company is committed to its solution and aims to enhance sustainability in the olive oil sector. They offer an innovative and holistic way of preserving good cultivation practices while supporting the local culture. Additionally, they use our ground-breaking technology to safeguard the integrity of the olive oil supply chain by leveraging DNA information. 

They have employed a three-step process that starts from the orchards and ends at the final bottled product; leaves are collected and serve as the starting point, providing us with meaningful genetic information. They play the role of a genomic repository. Next, olive oil samples are collected from different steps of the supply chain (e.g., storage tank, after bottling) and analyzed, ensuring that the genetic profile remains consistent throughout the production process. This is how we offer end-to-end DNA traceability. We make continuous efforts to expand our DNA data repository. 

At present, the company can successfully identify 37 different olive varieties from various regions across the Mediterranean basin. We aim to enrich this repository further, ensuring an even more accurate verification process and gaining new genetic knowledge that will have a significant yet positive impact on the future of this industry.