Project Summary

GENERAL INFORMATION

The project “Strengthening and enhancing quality olive oil chain in Lebanon” (Olio del Libano III) builds on the achievements of two past projects (Olio del Libano I and II). It involves the establishment of national bodies for the protection of quality olive oil, and the characterisation of monovarietal and local oils, providing the right conditions for a more targeted and coherent use of the existing facilities for organoleptic and chemical analyses, operated by the Ministry.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

Strengthening the Lebanese olive oil quality

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• Improving the knowledge of operators and consumers on olive oil  
• Improving the socio-economic conditions of olive oil operators   and of their families
• Increasing food security level 

MAIN ACTIVITIES

• Technical and legal advice on Olive Oil Certification
• Training on olive oil quality for MoA and laboratory staff 
• Enhancement of olive oil quality 
• Re-organization, integration and upgrading of equipment and consumables for MoA laboratory 

TYPE OF SERVICES PROVIDED

• Training and capacity building of institutional and technical staff involved (98 trainees and n. 4 workshops with n. 176 participants);
• Chemical and organoleptic characterization of territorial olive oils (n. 30 samples of monovarietal olive oils and n. 25 from local mills);
• MoA’s chemical and sensory testing laboratory for olive oil quality control strengthened;
• Consumers’ awareness on quality olive oil (Mobile App, TV adverts, Beirut cooking festival, HORECA, etc.);
• National association of olive oil operators, defining its legal Statute; n. 1 working group (n.11 stakeholders) from private and public sectors established as potential founders of the association);
• Phytosanitary monitoring to identify pathogen-free olive trees especially from Xylella fastidiosa (n. 400 samples  from mother plant plots and from 100 host plants from the surrounding area analyzed, n. 241 plant and soil samples from mother plant plots analyzed and n. 268 certified cvs produced).