Greek blockchain specialists create genetic barcode to protect against olive oil fraud

27-Jun-2022 - Last updated on 27-Jun-2022 at 15:33 GMT

Image: Getty/Gatsi

Extra virgin olive oil is a major target of unscrupulous food fraudsters, but perhaps not for much longer.

With funding from the EU research and innovation project S3FOOD, a team of biotechnology and blockchain specialists in Greece is using olive oil DNA to generate a fraudproof genetic barcode for each and every bottle.

Crete-based biotech company BioCos, which develops DNA-based traceability solutions for food products, has developed what it describes as an antifraud traceability tool called DNAblockchain.

The digital tool, it claims, will safeguard the authenticity and traceability of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) all the way from the field. For producers, it means the value of high-end products will no longer be undercut by cheaper imitations. Consumers can also trust that the EVOO in the bottle lives up to the designation on the label and is safe to consume.

There are sustainability benefits, too. As authentic EVOO gains the recognition it deserves, said BioCoS, growers will have a greater incentive to protect the biodiversity of olive tree varieties.

“The high risk of fraud in the olive oil industry is very much related to the economic value, fragmented supply chain and liquid nature of the product. A recent study has found that the value of a premium EVOO may be reduced by 50%,” explained Stelios Arhondakis CEO of BioCoS, which is working with technology partner InTTrust to develop the DNAblockchain traceability tool.

Olive oil fraud takes many forms. In 2019, for example, Europol seized 150 tonnes of sunflower oil, which the label claimed to be olive oil. Another case involved 47 millers, two bottlers and traders, who sold oil with a fake EVOO Protected Geographical Location (PGI) label.

What’s more, there are fears the issue could worsen as demand for olive oil increases after Russia's invasion of Ukraine cut supply of sunflower oil.

Traceability from tree to consumer

To counter the problem, BioCoS is establishing DNA profiles for specific olive varieties used to produce EVOO. One variety – Koroneiki – accounts for around 60% of Greek EVOO production.

An intelligent data processing platform uses the DNA data to verify the varietal authenticity of EVOO. This information is then integrated in a blockchain system along with other data, such as quality characteristics, the location of the olive grove and the quantity of EVOO produced.

The whole traceable story will be available to consumers via a QR code on the EVOO bottle.

“Blockchain is already widely used in the olive oil sector to track and trace each lot number from the olive oil manufacturer to the consumer. However, the limitation of this approach is that it ensures only the traceability of the bottle – not its content,” said Arhondakis.

“DNAblockchain bridges this gap, making it impossible to mix olive oil with other varieties or other types of vegetable oil without being discovered. So, if you add let’s say 3-5% olive oil from a Greek variety to an Italian product, you would be able to trace it via DNA analysis. That gives complete transparency.”

In addition to the benefits for commercial brands and food safety, the DNA data can be used to create a ‘geo-genetic’ map of olive growers producing EVOO. Arhondakis believes this could become an essential resource for future efforts to improve the sustainability of olive cultivation and mitigate climate change risks.

BioCoS and InTTrust are among more than 75 small and medium-sized companies that have received digital innovation funding from the EU’s S3FOOD project, a four-year €5 million project that aims to inspire, support and fund the digital transition of the European food processing industry. Other funded innovations that target food fraud and food safety include a blockchain tool for cheese, a biosensor for pathogen detection in water and a smart food safety platform for tuna processors.

Other funded innovations that target food fraud and food safety include a blockchain tool for cheese, a biosensor for pathogen detection in water and a smart food safety platform for tuna processors.

S3FOOD will present its achievements and future opportunities for digital innovation within the food industry at its final event in Brussels on 7 September 2022.