The project “Authentic-Olive-Net” introduces an innovative and effective way to certify the authenticity of extra virgin and virgin local olive oils, which are being produced in the Interreg V-A Greece-Italy area and which are already registered or should become registered under the geographical indication schemes of P.D.O. (protected designation of origin) or P.G.I. (protected geographical indication) that are based on the legal framework provided by the EU Regulation No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs.
The Interreg V/A Greece – Italy program area is characterized by a wide range of high skill productive agribusiness sector and common high quality traditional products. Moreover, on the Italian side , there are already exist innovative and high – tech agribusiness associations. Olive sector, significantly, contributes to the economies of Greece and Italy. However, there is only an authentication criteria which is based on the statement of the producers. Furthermore, the procedures of the authenticity certification are fragmented and insufficient. The project of the AUTHENTIC – OLIVE – NET introduces an innovative and effective way to certify the authenticity of extra virgin and virgin PDO ( protected designation of origin) and PGI P.G.I. (protected geographical indication) local olive oils and promote their competitive advantages to internal and external markets.
Project partners consist of Preveza Chamber, Region of Western Greece, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation “DEMETER”, Assoproli Bari and the Chamber of Commerce of Foggia, while the project area of interest includes the Puglia Region (Provinces of Foggia, Bari, Brindisi, Lecce, Barletta-Andria-Trani (BAT), Taranto), the Region of Western Greece (Aitoloakarnania, Achaia, Ileia), the Region of Ionian Islands (Zakynthos, Kerkyra, Kefalonia, Lefkada) and the Region of Epirus (Arta, Thesprotia, Ioannina, Preveza).
