An olive oil hub for
research and development
For us, quality is not the destination but continuous research. It’s a philosophy of life and work. For this reason, we never get tired of experimenting and studying new ways to do better.
We have always been experimenting; In the field, to help nature give us its best, and in the mill to improve the milling processes with the aim of producing the best extra virgin olive oil.
It's a continuous dialogue with all the players in the supply chain, from the producers in our Sicilian network to restaurateurs. From agronomists to expert tasters, this allows us to understand how to improve continuously, what innovations to experiment with and how to meet the needs of attentive consumers with the best products.
Field applications
Our research begins in the field. We were pioneers in the promotion of local and native species and among the first to re-evaluate them. We have dedicated one of our of lands to the cultivation of 40 different cultivars to study them. We want to test new local varieties and to analyze their "behaviour" according to different contexts.
To guarantee each plant the right degree of nourishment, we have implemented high-tech agronomic techniques with low environmental impact, like the sub-surface fertilized irrigation,it’s a system that allows, through special sensors connected to a special software and a meteorological station, to detect the degree of humidity in the soil and supply water and nourishment according to the lands’ needs.
Learning in the mill
Combining research and experience, we have created an innovative system that allows us to set. We, therefore, manage, every single process of the production plant based on a (secret) "recipe" customized for cultivar, origin and state of maturation. This way we can standardize and enhance the organoleptic properties of each variety of olive. By intervening, for each one, on factors such as the crushing speed and temperature, the pressure in the protoreator, the kneading time, etc…
The analysis laboratory
The search for absolute quality involves meticulous and constant analysis. We carry it out in our internal laboratory, equipped with NIRS (Near InfraRed Spectroscopy) analysis technology, which allows us to monitor the characteristics of each oil.
Research on polyphenols
We collaborate with companies and universities for research on polyphenols in vegetation water obtained from the extraction process.Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants present in large quantities as waste in the oil industry. These compounds, once extracted, can be used as food supplements for human health or as feed for livestock.
The oil school
Our new, technologically advanced production plant is also a research and development hub. It’s a centre to exchange ideas and culture. Inside we have planned an oil school, a space to deepen the research and culture of the highest quality olive oil and promote its knowledge, relationships and experiences throughout the Mediterranean.