Protective shield for olive farming in Crete from the Region and ELGO-DIMITRA

The Region of Crete is promoting the protection of olive oil production in Crete, as the product is a key driver of growth in the primary sector, through a programmatic agreement with ELGO-DIMITRA concerning the development of a program entitled «Production of pre-basic propagating material of olive varieties in the Region of Crete-CertOlive.».
The aim of this action, as stated in the contract presented by APE-MPE, is to acquire the necessary knowledge to benefit nurseries and farmers in Crete with superior quality nursery material from olive mother plants with certified varietal identity and plant health, for the first time in Greece.

Warning bell

According to the technical report on the action, the catalyst was the unprecedented destruction of olive groves in Italy.
As the report states, «in the neighboring country, the xylella disease has caused a 60% reduction in production to date. If it spreads to Greece, it is estimated that it will cause damage amounting to €2 billion. The spread from country to country occurs through propagating material. The production of certified olive trees for the first time in Greece protects our country.
Farmers and nurseries use mother trees that they have selected from olive groves in their area. The plants produced often differ from the original variety and do not have stable growth and production depending on the nursery from which we have sourced them.

The role of the Chania Olive Institute

ELGO DEMETRA maintains the National Reference Collection for olive varieties at the Institute of Subtropical Plants and Vines in Chania. The Institute's researchers have been conducting systematic research since 1960 and have selected the most representative trees from all Greek varieties. The Institute maintains these plants in the same soil, with the same cultivation practices, and has recorded all the characteristics of their genetic identity. Therefore, these trees represent the genuine variety of Koroneiki, Tsounati, Throubolia, and all Greek varieties.
All nurseries that obtain mother plants from ELGO DEMETRA ensure varietal authenticity, uniformity in growth and fruiting, and plant health certification.
According to recent European Union legislation (which Greece has harmonized with), nurseries must:
– Implement traceability to prove varietal authenticity.
– Have certified propagating material.

Long-term research

The Institute in Chania has been researching olive varieties since 1960. In 2012, it built a greenhouse with specific specifications and planted the 10 main varieties of Greece. For eight years, all tests and laboratory examinations were carried out to ensure varietal authenticity and freedom from disease. In September 2020, the Ministry of Rural Development and Food certified the plantation as pre-basic, which is the highest certification category internationally.
The Institute has carried out research projects worth over €10 million to study olive varieties, while approximately €100,000 has been spent to date specifically on the pre-basic plantation.

Antonis Nomikos