EIT Food has rewarded startups that work in the value chain of the olive sector in Europe 

This year, for the first time, EIT Food collaborated with the Juan Ramón Guillén Foundation Awards, with the aim of including a new European category. This is the second edition of the awards, that seek to reward initiatives that contribute to the development and improvement of the olive sector, which is strategic in the Spanish and Andalusian economy. It has been a big success because we have received very high quality applications from different parts of Spain and other European countries.

The new prize supported by EIT Food is called ‘New Business Ideas Transforming the Olive Value Chain Award’ and it is focused on start-ups and SMEs working along the value chain of the olive sector in Southern Europe. Optisolio PC has been awarded, a proposal from Greece, which presents an innovative method of detecting the fruit fly that will allow greater efficiency in the management of olive tree pests. The value of the prize is 4,000 euros, consisting of a direct payment of 2,000 euros and the participation in a mentoring program which is worth a further 2,000 euros.

In addition to the European EIT Food Award, the Juan Ramón Guillén Foundation Awards include three other national awards: 

• In the Young Farmer category with 4,000 euros, Antonio Manuel Conde has been awarded for his argumentation and defense of the use of plant covers to prevent the erosion of the olive grove land and the damages that this causes.
• The Rural Innovation in the Olive Sector Award, with another 4,000 euros; and the Professional Career Award, with a special mention.In the Olivarera Rural Innovation category, the Association for the recovery of uncultivated olive trees in Oliete has been recognized for its project Sponsor an olive tree, an initiative that was born with the aim of recovering the 100,000 abandoned olive trees in said municipality of Teruel, which is part of of the so-called emptied Spain.
• In the Professional Career category, the award went to Manuel Pajarón for his work in defense and enhancement of the Andalusian olive grove and his special work around to the development of the ecological olive grove. 

Congratulations to all the participants and winners!