The CIRCOLIVE Project officially launched its first Interim Consortium Meeting in the beautiful city of Poreč (Croatia), marking a pivotal moment in the project’s development. Over two days, partners from across Europe gathered for a series of insightful presentations, collaborative discussions, and strategic planning sessions aimed at advancing the project’s goals for a circular and sustainable olive oil sector.

The first day began with a comprehensive Project Review by George Vardangalos from VAKAKIS, setting the tone for alignment on objectives and upcoming steps. This session provided a valuable overview of CIRCOLIVE’s progress and helped ensure all partners were fully synchronized on priorities.

Following this, leading experts from the partner countries took the stage to present the current state of the olive oil sector. Contributors included Rosalba Roccatello (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna), Georgia Moschopoulou (Agricultural University of Athens), Joana Galvão (Associação Check-IN), Esther Garcia (CCI Lleida), and Iva Pastor (Institute of Agriculture and Tourism). Their presentations highlighted sector challenges and opportunities across the five participating countries.

The day wrapped up with a session on National Reports that examined the essential skills—both current and future—that will drive the sector’s evolution towards circularity. This knowledge-sharing fostered lively discussions and underscored the importance of vocational education and training in building a resilient olive oil industry.

The second day was equally productive, opening with a discussion led by George Vardangalos on the 2025 activity plan, laying out the roadmap for the project’s next phase.

Key presentations followed, including: Guidelines for revising and developing professional profiles, presented by Chiara Dell’Amico from IFOA, which will help shape training programs tailored to industry needs; An in-depth look at the development of holistic circular business models for olive oil, delivered by Kostas Hatziyannis from VAKAKIS; A demonstration of the digital platform structure by Mark Sagarra from Eurecat, showcasing the innovative tools that will support knowledge exchange and learning; A spotlight on project dissemination efforts, with the 2024 dissemination report presented by António Gomes from Check-IN, highlighting outreach activities and future communication strategies.

The event concluded on a delicious note with a presentation and tasting of Croatian olive oils, expertly organized by Karolina Brkic Bubola from the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč. This unique experience reinforced the cultural and economic importance of olive oil in the region and served as a fitting celebration of the partners’ collaboration.

The CIRCOLIVE Interim Consortium Meeting was a resounding success, demonstrating strong commitment and teamwork among partners. The discussions and plans made during these two days have set a clear path forward to foster innovation, education, and sustainability within the olive oil sector. The consortium looks forward to the exciting developments ahead as CIRCOLIVE continues to build a circular future for Mediterranean agriculture.