Methodologies for the olive grove and olive oil mill that help increase antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil

The olive oil production chain has recently experienced continuous and significant technological innovation with the introduction of new machinery, improvements to existing equipment, and the implementation of technologies aimed at achieving total process control. These advancements aim to enhance the quality of the oil, increase efficiency, and ensure the sustainability of the olive oil production chain. The purpose of this speech is to highlight several examples of technological innovation in olive cultivation, particularly focusing on the precise planning of olive harvesting. This includes the use of continuous image analysis in olive groves to determine the maturity index of the olives and to estimate the quantity of olives on each plant and throughout the field. In the second part of the speech, innovations within the olive mill will be discussed. This includes the introduction of optical sorters for olive selection, the use of advanced crushers, modern technologies for both hot and cold conditioning of olive pastes, and new decanters designed to minimize water and energy consumption. Additionally, attention will be given to the sensors currently available for monitoring and controlling the olive oil extraction process. Finally, future developments will be explored, highlighting the potential for artificial intelligence in olive mills. This technology promises to enable process automation, predictive maintenance, production optimization, quality control, and improved energy and water efficiency, all with a focus on sustainability.