Lost Treasures in Olive Mills

When I went with a group of Spanish friends to visit my friend, Professor/ Saleh Al-Omari – owner of a large company specializing in olive oil pressing (Al-Baraka) – I found him busy with his team, brainstorming how to dispose of the pressing waste.

I asked him to explain the issue of waste (pomace, leaves, small branches, and vegetative water), which causes significant environmental pollution. He then launched into a highly productive discussion. During the conversation, my Spanish friends brought up a recent European project known as OLinWASTE as a promising solution to this problem.

What is the OLinWASTE project?

• Funding: 4 million Euros from the "Horizon Europe" program for the period (2025-2029).
• Coordinator: Sapienza University (Italy).
• Partners: 9 institutions from 6 countries (Italy, Spain, Austria, Finland, United Kingdom, Sweden).
• Objective: Transforming olive oil pressing waste into value-added products and clean energy using green chemistry and biotechnology.

What will the project develop?

1. An integrated biorefinery plant: that converts pomace and leaves into:
   • Biopesticides and biofertilizers.
   • Biodegradable bioplastics.
   • Clean bioenergy (biogas).
   • Plant immune boosters.
   • Phenolic compounds and natural sugars.
2. AI-powered control system: Aims to reduce carbon emissions, noise, and odors.

Role of the University of Burgos

The BIOIND research group is working on extracting biologically active compounds from waste using environmentally friendly technologies (such as pressurized water and filtration membranes). These extracts, rich in polyphenols and sugars, are used in plant growth promotion experiments in collaboration with Sapienza University.

Project Significance

• Economically: It reduces waste disposal costs (which can be up to 10% of total production).
• Environmentally: It closes the waste loop, reduces pollution, and lowers the carbon footprint.
• Socially: It provides new income sources for olive producers and enhances sustainability in the sector.

Future Vision

After the research phase concludes, the OLinWASTE model will be generalized to producers in Egypt and worldwide, contributing to the achievement of EU climate goals and making olive oil production more environmentally friendly and value-added.

Summary

My friend, Professor Saleh Al-Omari, was very pleased with this discussion, which opened the door of hope for transforming olive pressing waste from a burden into a benefit, and for adding value to the pressing process.

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