Enhancing the Olive Oil Industry: From Cultivation to Sustainable Utilization

The olive supply chain is integral to the cultivation, processing, distribution, and consumption of olives, particularly in Mediterranean regions, which are responsible for 98% of global olive oil production. As a functional food, olive oil is scientifically recognized for enhancing physiological functions and reducing risks associated with diet-related diseases. The European Commission, backed by EFSA, has approved health claims regarding the polyphenol content of olive oil, emphasizing its value not just in oil but also in various by-products, including leaves, branches, shells, seeds, pomace, and mill wastewater. Despite their potential, the utilization of these by-products remains limited, offering a fertile ground for innovative approaches to product development, eco-sustainable disposal, and economic growth.

This Research Topic aims to explore and develop practices that enhance the sustainability and efficiency of the olive oil industry. It primarily seeks to investigate bioactive compounds in olive matrices and by-products, refine processes for their recovery, and foster environmentally sustainable waste disposal methods. Furthermore, the topic set forth to add value to olive mill waste for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications, improve sustainable pest management in olive cultivation, and optimize irrigation and water management practices to bolster production efficiency.
To gather further insights into the olive supply chain, this Research Topic confines itself to exploring sustainable practices and methodologies. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Study of bioactive compounds and their biological properties in olive matrices and by-products from the olive oil industry
• Processes for the recovery of bioactive compounds from oil industry by-products and the production of nutrient-rich food and feedstuffs
• Processes that promote environmentally sustainable disposal of waste from the oil industry
• Procedures for value addition to olive mill waste for cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes
• Sustainable pest management in olive production, including integrated pest management
• Irrigation and water management in olive production to optimize yield

We welcome submissions in various article formats, including Original Research, Review, Case Study, or Opinion articles, to contribute to this comprehensive exploration of sustainability within the olive oil industry.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Olea europaea L., biophenols, olive matrices, carbon footprint, olive oil, olive, supply chain, cultivation, production, bioactive compounds, sustainable, by-products, waste, management, industry

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.