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The IOC, as part of its work to support and assist projects and initiatives benefitting the sector, sponsors various projects under the Horizon 2020 programme. One of these projects is “Bio-resources for Oliviculture” – BeFOre (H2020-MSCA-RISE- 2014: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange). This project was launched in February 2015, and is set for completion in February 2019. It is coordinated by the National Research Council (Italy), through the Perugia Branches of the Institutes ISAFOM and IBBR.
The BeFOre project aims to establish a multi-lateral network of research and innovation staff active in olive germplasm access, conservation, evaluation and exploitation; strengthen research capacities through the exchange of knowledge and expertise on a shared research programme focused on developing integrated common protocols to phenotype and characterise plants at molecular, morphological and physiological level; and evaluate olive oil quality in relation to varieties. The scientific results of BeFOre will contribute to improving the potential of the olive germplasm collections, repositories and banks, as main sources of variability, and will provide evaluation tools to increase the sustainability of olive growing. Particular attention will be paid to issues concerning international intellectual property rights for conserving, exchanging and using olive genetic resources. BeFOre aims to create a long-lasting network of partners, also promoting new common projects, with the support of Horizon 2020 and other international sources of funding.
The International Olive Council (IOC) has expressed its strong support to BeFOre, planning to play an important role in dissemination activities. Accordingly, the project’s first results have been made available on our website, under the project link that appears in the menu.. www.beforeproject.eu
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