As part of its mission to transform Mediterranean agricultural residues into high-value resources, the OLIWA Project has successfully reached its first major experimental milestone in Work Package 3 (Use of Olive Byproducts as Substrate for Insects).
The preliminary results of this pioneering research were officially presented at the GR-I-CE 2026 conference in Athens (May 10th–13th), a leading international platform dedicated to advancing green technologies and circular economy solutions.
Unlocking the Potential of Olive Pomace Conducted in November 2025, this initial study explored the viability of two-phase olive pomace (both in dried and wet forms) as a sustainable nutritional substrate for the growth and development of Black Soldier Fly larvae (Hermetia illucens).
The research evaluates critical metrics including larval performance, growth rates, and chemical composition. The ultimate goal is to validate how polluting olive byproducts can be efficiently upcycled into premium insect biomass within a strict circular economy framework.
Academic Excellence Driving OLIWA Forward This breakthrough study is spearheaded by the Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology (LEAZ) at the University of Thessaly, led by Professor Christos G. Athanassiou.
During the GR-I-CE 2026 event, the findings were delivered by Panagiota Soulioti, PhD candidate at the University of Thessaly, during the specialized session: “Circular Economy: From organic waste to value: insect bioconversion as a circular economy pathway” (chaired by Maria Pappas and co-chaired by Christos Rumbos).
This presentation marks a crucial step toward developing scalable and sustainable bioconversion processes that will support both environmental protection and economic resilience across the Mediterranean olive sector.