With funding from the EU research and innovation venture S3FOOD, a group of biotechnology and blockchain specialists in Greece is the use of olive oil DNA to generate a fraudproof genetic barcode for every and every bottle.
Crete-essentially essentially based mostly biotech firm BioCos, which develops DNA-essentially essentially based mostly traceability solutions for meals merchandise, has developed what it describes as an antifraud traceability tool known as DNAblockchain.
The digital tool, it claims, will safeguard the authenticity and traceability of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) the total ability from the field. For producers, it ability the rate of excessive-stop merchandise will no longer be undercut by more moderately priced imitations. Shoppers would possibly possibly per chance per chance also additionally belief that the EVOO in the bottle lives up to the designation on the designate and is safe to impart.
There are sustainability advantages, too. As legit EVOO positive factors the recognition it deserves, mentioned BioCoS, growers would possibly possibly per chance per chance catch a better incentive to protect the biodiversity of olive tree forms.
“The excessive possibility of fraud in the olive oil trade would possibly possibly be very mighty connected to the commercial rate, fragmented supply chain and liquid nature of the product. A latest gape has stumbled on that the rate of a premium EVOO would be reduced by 50%,” defined Stelios Arhondakis CEO of BioCoS, which is working with technology companion InTTrust to produce the DNAblockchain traceability tool.
Olive oil fraud takes many forms. In 2019, as an instance, Europol seized 150 tonnes of sunflower oil, which the designate claimed to be olive oil. One other case fervent 47 millers, two bottlers and merchants, who equipped oil with a pretend EVOO Protected Geographical Space (PGI) designate.
What’s more, there are fears the misfortune would possibly possibly per chance per chance also aggravate as search info from for olive oil will improve after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cleave supply of sunflower oil.
Traceability from tree to particular person To counter the difficulty, BioCoS is organising DNA profiles for specific olive forms ragged to get hang of EVOO. One diversity – Koroneiki – accounts for spherical 60% of Greek EVOO manufacturing.
An shimmering info processing platform uses the DNA info to test the varietal authenticity of EVOO. This info is then constructed-in in a blockchain system along with assorted info, comparable to quality traits, the plot of the olive grove and the amount of EVOO produced.
The final traceable story would possibly possibly be on hand to patrons by way of a QR code on the EVOO bottle.
“Blockchain is already widely ragged in the olive oil sector to monitor and hint every lot quantity from the olive oil manufacturer to the actual person. Nonetheless, the limitation of this implies is that it ensures finest the traceability of the bottle – now not its mumble,” mentioned Arhondakis.
“DNAblockchain bridges this gap, making it not doubtless to mix olive oil with assorted forms or assorted forms of vegetable oil without being stumbled on. So, in the occasion you add let’s allege 3-5% olive oil from a Greek diversity to an Italian product, that that you just would possibly possibly per chance per chance be ready to hint it by way of DNA diagnosis. That affords total transparency.”
As effectively as to the advantages for commercial brands and meals safety, the DNA info would possibly possibly per chance per chance also additionally be ragged to create a ‘geo-genetic’ plan of olive growers producing EVOO. Arhondakis believes this would possibly possibly per chance per chance also turn into an most important resource for future efforts to enhance the sustainability of olive cultivation and mitigate climate trade risks.
BioCoS and InTTrust are amongst more than 75 runt and medium-sized corporations that catch bought digital innovation funding from the EU’s S3FOOD venture, a four-year €5 million venture that targets to encourage, reinforce and fund the digital transition of the European meals processing trade. Diversified funded enhancements that be aware of meals fraud and meals safety embody a blockchain tool for cheese, a biosensor for pathogen detection in water and a shapely meals safety platform for tuna processors.
Diversified funded enhancements that be aware of meals fraud and meals safety embody a blockchain tool for cheese, a biosensor for pathogen detection in water and a shapely meals safety platform for tuna processors.
S3FOOD will existing its achievements and future opportunities for digital innovation internal the meals trade at its last occasion in Brussels on 7 September 2022.
