On September 25, 2026, the OLIWA project took center stage at the workshop “Beyond the Olive Tree: Exploring Innovation Across the Olive Value Chain,” hosted by sister project OLIVEPACK at Zeytin Okulu (Olive School) in Karaburun, İzmir, Türkiye.
OLIWA was represented by Prof. Dr. Mücahit Taha Özkaya and Assoc. Prof. Levent Doğankaya from Ankara University, who highlighted key synergies between sustainable production, processing, and the future of the olive sector.
Driving Synergies Across the Sector
The workshop gathered researchers, industry experts, and regional stakeholders to discuss technological and ecological advances reshaping olive value chains across the Mediterranean.
While OLIVEPACK focuses on developing bio-based antimicrobial packaging materials to extend the shelf life of naturally fermented, low-salt table olives, OLIWA brings complementary expertise in circular economy solutions, co-product valorization, and overall process sustainability.
Key Highlights of the Event
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Knowledge Exchange: Sharing progress on eco-friendly approaches to reduce environmental impacts throughout olive processing.
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Packaging & Quality Advances: Exploring bio-based packaging solutions designed to maintain olive quality, safety, and nutritional value without excess salt.
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Cross-Project Collaboration: Strengthening research networks and partnerships within the PRIMA-supported research ecosystem.
The gathering at Karaburun reaffirmed the power of collaborative innovation. By aligning expertise across sister projects, OLIWA and OLIVEPACK are actively building a more resilient, sustainable, and value-driven olive sector.