The traceability of the Umbria olive oil supply chain means the information process that follows the product from upstream to downstream of the supply chain: from the place of origin (e.g. Trasimeno) to the production of olive oil (PDO UMBRIA), to its processing, to conservation, to arrive at final consumption. Traceability is the reverse path, from the OIL product to the cultivation of olive trees in the field.
The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the European Council 178/2002, establishes the general principles and requirements of food legislation.
An example of digitalization is the CDROxitester system to monitor the olive oil extraction process in real-time. With the cold extraction system by the pressure of the olives, in combination with CDROxitester, it is possible to monitor the evolution of the chemical parameters of the extracted oil, before and after processing at the mill. With CDR OxiTester you can determine, in olive oil:
- Acidity in 1 minute
- Number of Peroxides in 4 minutes
- Polyphenols/Oxidative Stability Index in 6 minutes
- K 270 in 1 minute
- Fermentable sugars on olives in 6 minutes
UNAPROL (National Union of Olive Oil Producers) uses the CDROxitester system, within the supply chain traceability project. More than 50% of farms in the TRASIMENO area join UNAPROL.
The controlled designation of origin UMBRIA, accompanied by the geographical mention COLLI DEL TRASIMENO, is reserved for extra virgin olive oil obtained from the Moraiolo and Dolce Agogia varieties (minimum 15%), Frantoio and Leccino together with a minimum presence of 65%.
Digital tools, currently available to olive oil producers, are therefore an additional means to guarantee the quality of the product throughout the Trasimeno area and in Umbria.
Written by Paolo Burini from UCT.
