17 February 2016 The oLIVE CLIMA (LIFE11 ENV/GR/000942) LIFE project is actively contributing to the pilot phase for the elaboration of Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs) for olive oil. This process will finish late 2017 and its conclusions will be integrated into the European Commission’s policy proposals regarding circular economy actions that are due to be presented mid-2018.
oLIVE CLIMA is highlighting the climate mitigation potential of olive groves. Specifically, the project is testing the efficacy of a number of measures to increase carbon uptake from the atmosphere and storage of a considerable part of it, first in olive wood and then in the soil.
The project experts contributed to an important decision taken on 18 November 2016 by the Technical Advisory Board (TAB) of the unit dealing with the PEF . The decision recognises credits in the carbon footprint of olive tree products when it can be proven that carbon is stored for more than 100 years in the wood. The decision also covered cork tree products. This decision is a real milestone as it is the first time that, beyond forests, agricultural crops are considered as way to deliver climate change mitigation.
oLIVE CLIMA will next seek to highlight the carbon storage capacity of olive grove soil. The project expects to prove the climate mitigation potential from increasing Soil Organic Matter (SOM) in olive groves. The project will argue that such carbon storage deserves additional climate change mitigation credits if it can be proven to be ‘permanently’ bound.
The project’s final results on soil carbon storage capacity in olive groves are expected for 2017 and will be transmitted to the TAB. If proven, the results are expected to offer significant benefits, both to the environment and to olive growers, as it strengthens the message to the consumer that increasing the sustainability of olive production is good not only for their nutrition and health, but also that it offers invaluable services to the environment.
For more information about Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) check out:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/news/newsarchive2017/february/index.htm#olive
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/pdf/footprint/PEF%20methodology%20final%20draft.pdf
