Olive Oil

Olive Oil

Olive Oil

Ensuring rapid traceability of extra virgin olive oil in Italy & Greece

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Ever drizzled olive oil over your salad and wondered if it is truly the "extra virgin" treasure it claims to be?
Let’s follow its journey from grove to table

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic foods: rich, aromatic and highly valuable. But because of its high market price, it is also a prime target for fraud.

Sometimes what is sold as “pure EVOO” may actually be blended with cheaper oils, made from different olive varieties than the label claims, or even falsely marketed as coming from a prestigious region.

These practices hurt farmers who work honestly, confuse consumers and threaten trust in the entire value chain.

And since traditional detection methods are slow, costly and mostly lab-based, fraud often stays hidden.

Watson solution

Watson brings a new level of transparency to EVOO: one powered by rapid DNA testing, blockchain and Digital Food Product Passport (DFPP), and an AI Early Warning System (EWS).


Real-life scenarios where Watson works its magic

Tracing olives from field to mill

Farmers register harvest details and the orchard’s genetic profile, capturing the identity of the olives at their source. This ensures the oil’s story begins exactly where it should: in the right grove.

Authenticating olive oil on-site at the mill

Using portable DNA technology, mill operators can instantly confirm that the oil in the storage tank really comes from the declared batches of olives. The results are saved on the blockchain and integrated into the DFPP.

Ensuring integrity from storage to bottling

Before bottling, DNA checks verify that the oil in the tank matches what ends up in the bottle. This creates a tamper-evident trail that protects producers and reassures consumers.

Scan-to-see transparency for consumers

A quick scan of the QR code on the bottle reveals the EVOO’s DNA identity, origin and production journey. No guesswork, just confidence in what you are about to enjoy.

The story behind the data

Watson combines a rich mix of information: orchard and harvesting data, processing and storage details, batch IDs, genetic profiles, bottling events… Advanced tools like the portable DNA tester, DFPP and EWS work behind the scenes to make every bottle of EVOO traceable and verifiable.


Who wins when Watson is in action
Food authorities

Gain faster, on-site DNA checks and receive alerts from an EWS that predicts potential fraud risks.

EVOO producers and retailers

Obtain proof that the oil in the bottle corresponds to what is declared in the documents.

Consumers

Enjoy clear, reliable information about the EVOO’s quality and origin, right at their fingertips.

The result?
A bottle whose story you can trust

Watson provides a world-first approach that brings lab-grade DNA authentication directly to the field, and ushers in a new era of trust and traceability.


LEAD PARTNER: Institute of Biosciences and BioResources – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
More information

For further details, check out our Pilot Booklet: