The European project Gen4Olive, funded by the European Commission through the Horizon 2020 program and coordinated by researchers from the Ucolivo group at the University of Córdoba, is in its final stage, culminating in the organization of two events that will reveal the advances achieved in more than four years of work dedicated to improving olive cultivation.
Since its inception in 2020, the project has fostered collaboration among 16 partners from 7 countries, including the world's leading germplasm banks. The final event is scheduled to take place from February 25 to 27 in Córdoba and will bring together international experts to discuss the future of olive cultivation, addressing topics such as the impact of projects developed by small and medium-sized enterprises in open calls launched by Gen4Olive.
One of the highlights of the event will be the discussion on advances in genetic improvement of fruit trees such as olive, peach, apple, passion fruit, and grape, featuring renowned experts like Concepción Muñoz Díez from the University of Córdoba (Spain), Stefano Tartarini from the University of Bologna (Italy), and Ksenija Gasic from Clemson University (USA).
The main objective of the Gen4Olive project is to mobilize and characterize olive genetic resources to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and emerging diseases. Among the specific objectives of the project are to improve the genetic and phenotypic characterization of more than 500 olive varieties, develop advanced digital tools to facilitate access to genetic resources and improve decision-making, as well as engage SMEs in innovation projects through open calls.
For the event, a webinar is planned for February 20 in online format, where digital tools will be presented that will allow a better understanding of olive cultivation and facilitate decision-making in the planning and management of plantations, promoting the use of accessible technologies to improve sustainability and efficiency in olive production. Experts from various fields, along with representatives from relevant companies in the sector, will participate in this event sharing their knowledge and experiences to drive innovation in olive cultivation.
