Tunisia Participates in a Vast Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation Project
Tunisia is taking part in a large-scale euro-Mediterranean cooperation project aimed at transforming residues from olive oil production into high-value-added products. Dubbed OLIWA, this initiative is funded by the European Union and brings together six countries from the region – Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Algeria, and Tunisia – under the coordination of the University of Turin.
Objective
The goal is clear: to shift from a model generating large volumes of agricultural waste to a circular economy where nothing is lost. The by-products of olive pressing, often difficult to eliminate and a source of pollution, will be reused in various innovative fields.
Applications
Among the envisioned applications are:
- Animal feed through insect farming using olive residues
- Production of flour for animal feed
- Extraction of natural components usable as food additives
- Manufacturing of sustainable packaging materials The project also plans to produce biogas by combining olive waste with other agricultural or organic residues, allowing for energy valorization.
Partners and Ambitions
A total of 25 partners are participating in OLIWA, including AIMPLAS, a Spanish technological center specializing in polymeric materials and ecological packaging solutions. The stated ambition is to reduce food waste by at least 25% and strengthen sustainable value chains across the entire Mediterranean basin.
Opportunity for Tunisia
For Tunisia, the world's leading exporter of organic olive oil, this project represents a strategic opportunity. It not only allows the country to address major environmental challenges related to the treatment of olive pomace and other waste but also to develop new green economic sectors with high added value.
Commitment to Research and Innovation
By investing in research and innovation, Tunisia confirms its willingness to transform a traditional sector into a lever for sustainable and competitive development.
