The Côa Parque Foundation has presented the catalogue produced as part of the OLIVECOA project, which studied the region’s approximately 150 century-old olive trees. In order to collect all the necessary information on the characteristics of the olive trees in this region, a biometric analysis of the trunk and crown, as well as a morphological characterization of the leaf, fruit and stone, were carried out on each plant.

As IPB researcher Nuno Rodrigues explained: “This project involved around 150 olive trees. We not only studied the scientific value of these plants, but also the innovation that led to the production of new olive products and the creation of new tourist routes so that visitors can discover this region, its gastronomy and landscape.”

Nuno Rodrigues claims that in order to collect all the necessary information about the characteristics of the olive trees in this area, a biometric analysis of the trunk and crown was carried out on each plant, as well as a morphological characterization of the leaves, fruits and stones. He explained: “After this study, the olives were harvested from each plant (olive tree) and their oil was extracted to study their organoleptic properties.”

At the end, a catalogue was created that included the 65 most representative olive trees out of the 150 mentioned. In addition, the OLIVECOA project made it possible to provide a series of goods that local economic actors could use.