Innovative Solutions for Olive Pomace Management in Spain's Olive Oil Industry

The Spanish olive oil industry faces the challenge of managing approximately six million tons of olive pomace annually. This byproduct, generated during oil extraction, has traditionally been processed in 62 facilities across the country, where it is converted into olive pomace oil, animal feed, and organic fertilizer.

New technologies are emerging to further valorize pomace, such as biogas production and biodegradable materials. The University of Córdoba is researching efficient biogas generation from pomace, while startups like Smallops are developing iron nanoparticles from pomace to enhance biogas production by up to 20%.

AlperPack is creating biodegradable films from treated pomace for food packaging. These innovations aim to strengthen the circular economy by utilizing what was once considered waste, with a focus on sustainability and efficiency.