Olive Sound is the last oil extraction innovation.
It’s the acronym for the Horizon 2020 European Project aimed at developing a high throughput oil extraction plant, the Sono-Heat-Exchanger. It combines ultrasound and heat exchange with the aim of breaking, through a radical innovation model, the historical paradigm that sees inversely correlated oil yield and content in biophenols. These are biologically active molecules that transform the extra virgin olive oil product from a mere condiment into a functional food.
The project was supported by the European Union through the “Fast Track To Innovation program”.
What is the object of Olive Sound?
Its primary objective is to develop a “market-ready” product that can make the companies involved more competitive. At the same time raising the competitiveness of European extra virgin olive oil in the international context.
What are the benefits of Olive Sound extraction?
The use of ultrasound does not affect the quality, composition and physical properties of the olive oil.
Instead, it facilitates the separation from the solid fraction during the process and leads to an increase in extraction efficiency, in less time, saving money.
It also makes the extraction process continuous, raises extraction yields by reducing fat residues in the pomace, use the low extraction temperatures for the development of the volatile fraction.
A “bottom up” innovation
When a change process is stimulated by the community of future users, a model of innovation defined as bottom-up, “coming from the bottom,” from gathering needs that truly take into account the needs of different stakeholders, is realized.
Fred Steward, Professor of Innovation & Sustainability, stated that “Innovation can be succinctly defined as the successful exploitation of new ideas”. So to generate an innovative process it is not enough to have an idea, but action must be taken to put it into practice!”
Finally, Olive Sound is a sustainable process in oil extraction consistent with the goals of Agenda 2030 and in line with European Green Deal directives and emerging consumer needs!