100 CULTIVAR ANALYSIS AND PROSPECTIVE STUDIES No. 35 Olive groves and olive oil At the same time, the current legal framework (Decree-Law No. 102-D/2020) supports ‘waste declassification mechanisms’, allowing certain materials, once they meet specific criteria, to cease being classified as waste and instead be used as products. This instrument facilitates their recovery and reuse, reducing administrative constraints associated with waste management and promoting their integration into circular economy models. Figure 1 – INOVCIRCOLIVE Pr oject Logo The INOVCIRCOLIVE project involved the collaboration of 13 partners, coordinated by the University of Évora, namely: the University itself; the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research – INIAV; the National Competence Centre InovTechAgro; Alentejo Science and Technology Park – PACT; Alentejo Centre for Agricultural and Agri-Food Biotechnology – CEBAL; Centre for the Study and Promotion of Alentejo Olive Oil – CEPAAL; Portugal Rural; Torre das Figueiras; António Rosado; Courela do Zambujeiro; Planície de Verão Agro-Pecuária, Lda (Casa Relvas); Cano Olive Growers’ Cooperative; Industrial and Commercial Olive Oil Society – SICA. The approach adopted in INOVCIRCOLIVE was based on the integration of laboratory research, field trials and validation in a real-world farming context, enabling the simultaneous assessment of both the technical effectiveness and operational feasibility of the proposed solutions. An analysis of the farms involved revealed a predominance of intensive systems, frequently associated with vertically integrated models. This context proved particularly favourable for the implementation of local value-added strategies, reducing logistical costs and enhancing the internal circularity of the systems. Generally speaking, producers demonstrated openness to adopting innovative practices, particularly when these were linked to direct economic benefits and a reduction in operational costs. Composting: a well-established solution Composting has established itself as the main method of agricultural recovery of olive grove residues. As part of the project, various processes were developed and monitored, involving combinations of olive leaves, olive pomace and manure, with the aim of optimising critical parameters such as the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, moisture content, temperature and aeration. A key factor in the success of the process was the correct formulation of the initial mixtures. To this end, prior knowledge of the physico-chemical characteristics of the organic materials used proved essential, namely their dry matter content, carbon and nitrogen content, and biodegradability. Accordingly, prior to constructing the composting heaps, representative samples were collected from the raw materials available on the farms, which were subsequently analysed in the laboratory. This approach enabled the proportions of the different materials to be adjusted to ensure suitable conditions for initiating the process, guaranteeing values close to the ideal for the C/N ratio and moisture content. Figure 2 – Compost heaps containing surplus material from the olive sector Source: INOVCIRCOLIVE Project
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