The winners were an arbequina oil from Almazaras de la Subbética, an itrana from Iannotta and a hojiblanca from Finca la Torre. In addition, a special mention for the farm with the healthiest soil was awarded to Dimitris Mitaros (Briani, Island of Lesbos, Greece).
The facilities of the University of Jaén located in the Torre del Vinagre were the venue for the awards ceremony of the 1st International Soil O-Live Competition: Soil Health & Olive Oil Quality Awards 2024, which took place within the framework of the workshop ‘Diagnosis of the Mediterranean olive grove soil’, organised as part of the Soil O-Live project. At this working meeting of the members of the consortium, some of the most relevant results of the first months of this European project were analysed.
The winners of this award, which values not only the quality of the oils but also the health of the olive grove soils, were an arbequina variety oil from Almazaras de la Subbética (Spain – Córdoba); an itrana from Iannotta (Italy) and a hojiblanca from Finca la Torre (Spain – Málaga). In addition, a special mention for the farm with the healthiest soil ‘Soil Health’ was awarded to Dimitris Mitaros (Briani), from the island of Lesbos (Greece).
The trophies were presented by Antonio Manzaneda, the project coordinator, and Rafael Pérez de Toro, Chief Quality Officer in Deoleo.
Manzaneda explained that the award ceremony was held as part of this joint activity between scientists and farmers to share the first diagnostic results of the initial phase of the project. ‘What better place to present these awards, pioneers in assessing soil health in an oil quality contest, than in this meeting with the participation of researchers and the farmers and producers involved in the initiative,’ he said.
In the words of Pérez de Toro, this Soil O-Live olive oil competition highlights quality and sustainability, two key pillars for Deoleo. ‘We are proud to reward the best quality oils produced in a healthy and sustainable soil, aspects that the global consumer appreciates more and more’, he said.
The workshop, which was attended by around fifty people, some in person and others online, dealt with some of the most relevant results of the project, including soil contamination due to the use of pesticides, copper or antibiotics, and the nitrogen cycle in olive groves and how it affects soil loss, among other issues.
This first edition of the competition has been a pilot experience and has been limited to the 52 farms participating in the Soil O-Live project, with the next edition planned to be open to all olive farms and commercial partners who wish to participate.
This competition is held within the framework of the European project of the same name, Soil O-Live, financed 100% by the European Union, coordinated by the University of Jaén (UJA) and whose objective has been to raise awareness and analyse the health of the soils of Mediterranean olive groves in relation to the quality of olive oils.
Description of the winning EVOOs
The winner of the prize in the light fruity category was an arbequina EVOO from Almazaras de la Subbética. The jury highlighted its light and fresh fruity nose of green olives, hints of green banana, vegetables and almonds; on the palate, the juice is sweet and fluid and has a slight bitter and spicy taste.
The prize in the medium fruity category went to an oil of the itrana variety from the Iannotta company. The jury emphasised that this EVOO is a harmonious and complete oil as a whole. On the nose it is described as medium fruity of green olives, very complex in aromas with the presence of green almonds, aromatic herbs, flowers, vanilla and cinnamon; and on the palate, an aftertaste of spices, spiciness and bitterness, balanced and of medium intensity.
In the intense fruity category, the winner was an oil of the hojiblanca variety from Finca la Torre. The description of this EVOO is as follows: on the nose it surprises with an intense fruity green olive, olfactory aromas of spontaneous plant cover accompanied by tomato and green banana peel, and in the mouth it is sweet and very fluid, with a medium spiciness and bitterness, bold and balanced with each other, and an aftertaste of olive leaf and alloza.
Soil O-Live Project
Soil O-Live is a project that aims to inform farmers about the implementation of sustainable practices and soil improvement in olive groves. Made up of 15 academic institutions such as the University of Jaén (UJA), the CSIC or the Spanish Standardisation Agency (UNE) and two companies from the olive sector, including Deoleo, the project is part of the Soil Heath and Food Mission of the Horizon Europe R&D&I programme (the European Union’s framework programme for research and innovation for the period 2021-2027).
soilolive.eu/en
About Deoleo
Deoleo is the world’s leading olive oil company, present in 43 countries on five continents. It has factories in Spain and Italy and sales offices in 12 countries. Deoleo has 27 brands in the portfolio of oil, olives, sauces and vinegars, world leading brands such as Bertolli -world leader- Carapelli and Sasso, as well as the Spanish brands Carbonell, Hojiblanca and Koipe. For more information about Deoleo and its 2030 sustainability strategy, please visit www.deoleo.com/sostenibilidad