The ‘OLEAF4VALUE’ project is funded by the European Union and aims to develop sustainable strategies for the valorization of olive leaf biomass generated in large volumes each season in the olive grove and olive oils sector.
The project consortium is composed by 16 experts who have designed five olive leaf processing routes to be implemented in the biorefinery, which will allow the production of more than 40 bioproducts that will be classified thanks to an almost completed software, in order to optimize the process according to market demand.
Specifically, the researchers have developed biotechnological processes, involving enzymes and microorganisms, to improve the physicochemical properties of the olive leaf. In addition, they have implemented a disruptive technology called MIPs (Molecularly Imprinted Polymers-Affinisep) to produce higher purity extracts of the extracted active ingredient.
After several trials, they have highlighted that the olive leaf bioproducts obtained are rich in polyphenols and triterpenes and have shown promising results as antioxidants and antimicrobials. In fact, polyphenol-rich extracts are known to have the ability to modulate the human intestinal microbiota, while oleanolic acid-taurine has applications in the cosmetic industry. It has also been observed that the incorporation of olive leaf extracts in Atlantic salmon feed has significantly improved the sustainability of aquaculture due to increased disease resistance.
On the other hand, the SAMBIO (Smart Dynamic Multi-Valorisation-Route Biorefinery) modeling has made it possible to evaluate the feasibility of valorization routes betting on energy optimization and, consequently, reducing environmental impact. On the other hand, the social analysis carried out determined that safety and consumer awareness are two fundamental elements for responsible consumption.
This initiative will allow to give a second life to the olive leaf, minimizing the impact on soil productivity, in addition to improving the health of soil, water and air in agricultural areas, without entailing an economic loss for producers, since the added value of this raw material would fall largely on the primary producer.
The project coordinator, José María Pinilla, has stated that “The OLEAF4VALUE team has taken a great step forward in the valorization of a wasted biomass such as the olive leaf, while developing a new innovative concept of dynamic biorefinery, which can serve as an inspiration to other industries. Natac has had the privilege and pride of coordinating this project whose future industrial development will have a definite impact on the entire value chain and on the rural areas where the biomass is mainly located”.
In conclusion, he highlighted that “the great efforts of OLEAF4VALUE in the characterization of olive leaf biomass have demonstrated, with advanced results, the feasibility and sustainability of adopting cleaner biorefinery processes, showing the potential of olive leaf biomass in driving innovative and sustainable solutions”.
