engleski

Croatian Market of Olive Residues for Energy-Challenge and Opportunity

Olive-mill residues represent an important environmental problem in Mediterranean EU countries, the main world producers of olive oil. The management of olive residues in most countries is still not properly regulated. Their high phenol, lipid and organic compounds content turn these residues into phytotoxic and polluting materials. The olive oil producing companies are very often conservative family based small and medium enterprises, with limited access to information on regular waste management, low investments possibilities and the need to be competitive against larger mills. They are frequently faced with increasingly restrictive environmental legislations and might be forced to close due to inability (both in terms of finance and skills) to treat properly their residues. These problems are likely to increase also in Croatia with its expected accession to the EU. In this article the recent research study performed using CATI method, on the sample of olive millers from Istrian region (Croatia) is presented. Survey was aimed on collecting information on olive processing and residues quantities in the regions as well as on recognizing the best practices of olive residues management in Croatia, with a special emphasis on using olive milling residues for energy purposes. The study is performed in the framework of EU project “ Market of Olive Residues for Energy (M.O.R.E.)” supported by Intelligent Energy - Europe programme. The main objective of this project is a creation of stable olive-residues-to-energy market in regions of the project partners’ countries (Italy, Greece, Spain, Slovenia and Croatia). The project is expected to improve olive oil waste management, increasing the use of renewable energy, bringing in innovation and creating new incomes opportunities.

olive mill residues; energy; Istria; best practice

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