Expected Outcomes

The OLEUM consortium is a diverse team of experts in laboratory-based problem solving, exploitation of state-of-the-art legislation and technology, industrial validation and up-scaling, and communication and knowledge exchange. 20 partners covering 13 countries have joined forces to provide an integrated and comprehensive approach to achieve the following:

• At least eight new in-house validated methods to control olive oil quality and to detect fraud.
• At least four revised and in-house validated methods  to control olive oil quality and to detect fraud.
• At least four validated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and two Quality Control Materials to deal with the main challenges of olive oil authentication:

1. method for the assessment of the organoleptic characteristics (Quantitative Panel Test) including two reference materials;
2. method to detect blends of extra virgin olive oils with soft deodorized olive oil;
3. method to detect illegal blends of olive oils with other vegetable oils;
4. method to be selected during the OLEUM project development.

• Identify additional methods and markers for the olive oil quality control and to detect fraud.
• Develop an OLEUM Databank of analytical information that will improve the implementation and the harmonization of methods of analysis.
• Establish an OLEUM Network for technology transfer of new methods and procedures and to foster laboratory proficiency and harmonization on a global scale.