Circular economy case study: the development of a new physiological biostimulant from olive by-products

Abstract

Olive (Olea europaea) crop is a socio-economic driving force in the Mediterranean basin, with a notable expansion in recent years. Its waste represents an opportunity for the transition to a bioeconomy. The large volumes of water used have a high organic load, with polyphenols such as hydroxytyrosol (HT). New technological processes have made possible to extract and purify polyphenols, and thus to use them in different industries, such as the agri-food industry. The antioxidant and complexing properties of polyphenols, which have an impact on the hormonal balance of crops, give them a great potential for use as agricultural inputs. As a result, e-OLIVE has been formulated, a biostimulant that i) supports the elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situations of water stress and ii) acts on the hormonal balance of the crop. Under natural conditions, e-OLIVE has increased yield through less physiological drop and higher fruit weight, as well as increased fat yield. These results have been achieved through superior nutrient translocation and expression of hormones and hormone regulators such as AIA, AS and ABA.