Differentiation for olive oil industry

AUSTRALIAN researchers have identified different components in olive oils grown in two states, giving growers new ways to market their product.

The findings, part of a project funded by the successful Farming Together program, could lead to a location-verification system.

Grower groups hope the method will be adopted by all Australian states keen to explore differentiation in their products.

Olive Centre CEO Amanda Bailey and South Australian olive oil expert Dr Richard Gawel undertook the analysis focussing on two health-giving components, phenols and an important bioactive, squalene, in oils from Frantoio olives.

“It was the first time anyone had ever compared the polyphenol profiles in oils from different locations in Australia,” said Ms Bailey.

“And it was the first time anyone had tested squalene levels.”

Dr Gawel said: “Squalene in particular is becoming a rock-star in the health world, with some Japanese buyers insisting on minimum levels of this rare antioxidant found only in extra virgin olive oil and, surprisingly, shark livers. Pure squalene is also used in exclusive cosmetics and skin formulations. Understanding how regionality affects these components will be valuable to Australian growers.”

The study involved a collaboration between the Queensland Olive Council and Olives South Australia, involving 100 growers from southeast Queensland and South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula region.

The study showed that oils from the two regions, harvested at the same ripeness and processed identically, could be differentiated to more than 90 per cent accuracy by proportions of polyphenols.

Regionality also strongly influenced squalene concentration.