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\u039cembers of the \u2018Nileas\u2019 Agricultural Olive Oil Producers\u2019 Cooperative in Messinia are participating in a modern plant protection program, which shields production from olive tree gloeosporium , one of the most serious fungal diseases affecting olive trees.<\/p>\n
The main goal of the pilot project of the Operational Group MUCH-BETTER OIL, that consists of GAIA EPICHEIREIN, the \u2018Eleonas\u2019 Olive Growers\u2019 Cooperative, the \u2018Nileas\u2019 Cooperative, the Department of Agricultural Pharmacology at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), and the National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, is to improve both the quality and quantity of olive oil production in the Messinia region through the development of this personalized olive tree protection program.<\/p>\n
So far, the results of the implementation of the innovative MUCH-BETTER OIL project have been very encouraging, and more data is expected in the following year. This is because the prolonged drought that affected the region in 2024 did not allow the fungus to develop in many olive groves, preventing representative samples from being collected everywhere. Additionally, due to the drought, this year\u2019s production decreased by more than 50% compared to the expected amount, while prices have dropped to 4 euros per kilogram.<\/p>\n
Sensitivity to Specific Active Substances<\/strong><\/p>\n The business plan is based on experiments conducted by the team of the Agricultural Pharmacology Laboratory of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), in collaboration with the DAOK (Directorate of Rural Economy and Veterinary Medicine) of Trifylia, and the experience of the collaborating researchers in the innovative methodology of metabolomics.<\/p>\n This particular research team from AUA is the first in Greece to report the existence of pathogen morphotypes with different pathogenicity and sensitivity to specific active substances. Studying sensitivity to fungicides is crucial for formulating personalized plant protection for each olive grove, so that only the products that are effective on the specific morphotype are used.<\/p>\n In this context, \u201cin the first phase, in cooperation with AUA, we took samples from scattered olive groves in the area to see which types of gloeosporium we encounter,\u201d says the agronomist of the \u2018Nileas\u2019 Cooperative, Giorgos Dimitroulas, in statements to \u2018Ypaithros Chora\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n The samples were then examined by the Agricultural Pharmacology Laboratory of AUA to \u201cidentify which types of gloeosporium exist in the area,\u201d he explains. \u201cThen, in collaboration with AUA, we selected specific products, which were applied by the cooperative producers participating in the program,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n According to AUA, \u201cthe genotypic composition of the pathogen populations determines their resistance to the applied plant protection products and their effectiveness.\u201d Identifying the specific type of gloeosporium is related to using specific products for the best possible result with the most limited use. \u201cIt is about integrated plant protection, while reducing interventions as much as we can\u201d, explains Mr Dimitroulas.<\/p>\n Particularly Encouraging First Results<\/strong><\/p>\n As mentioned earlier, the initial results from the application of the specific products by the producers of the \u2018Nileas\u2019 Cooperative are very encouraging. However, the conditions during the previous period were unusual and did not allow for widespread application, meaning that more conclusions could not be drawn. \u201cThis year was a bit unusual. Due to the drought, gloeosporium did not develop, except in very few groves,\u201d explains the agronomist of the Cooperative.<\/p>\n \u201cGloeosporium is a fungus, so it needs moisture to develop. It attacks the fruit and causes olive anthracnose\u2014meaning the olives rot and fall. With the drought, the conditions were not favorable for its development.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u039cembers of the \u2018Nileas\u2019 Agricultural Olive Oil Producers\u2019 Cooperative in Messinia are participating in a modern plant protection program, which shields production from olive tree gloeosporium , one of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":1234,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ypaithros.gr\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/much-better-oil-1.jpg\")
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Due to the drought, this year\u2019s quantities of olive fruit and, consequently, the produced olive oil were significantly impacted. \u201cThis year, the quantities were greatly reduced\u2014a decrease of more than 50% in production. There is also a significant drop compared to last year, when the rise in olive oil prices was historic. Now, we are at 4 euros per kilogram,\u201d concludes the agronomist.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ypaithros.gr\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/fasa-eng.png\")
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