PROJECT GOAL

The Transnational Project entitled “PILOT APPLICATION OF THE ANTIOXCERT STANDARD IN MAIN AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS” aims to certify the antioxidant power of the main agri-food products of Greece. More specifically, the ANTIOXCERT Standard approaches the Certification of the antioxidant power of some of the main greek agri-food products such as olive oil, olives, oregano, mountain tea, wine, raisin, garlic, barley flour, chestnut, pine tree honey etc., by defining for each product the main compound or compounds which are responsible for the antioxidant power of the specific product or group of products and by quantifying these compounds in each product batch. The final products are marked with the registered by GMCert Trade Mark ANTIOXCERT AGRODIVISION – common for all products – with specific reference to the concentrations of individual compounds in each product.

ADVANTAGE

The main Greek agri-food products are (or potentially could be) rich in antioxidant compounds either due to their genetic material (varieties, populations, etc.) or due to the way they are produced – prepared. The antioxidant compounds are precious to the human body health because they maintain the balance between oxidative stress (which is responsible for many diseases) and the immune system.

EXISTING PROBLEM

These product characteristics nowadays are not spread to the consumers through their label, in order to be differentiated from the competition and claim a better position in the market and therefore, a higher price.

PROPOSAL

The pilot application of the ANTIOXCERT Standard creates a new group of products, with their main characteristics being their antioxidant activity, which are part of a modern way of nutrition that can assume a global dimension. The Project aims to improve the competitiveness of the producers of primary products by their better accession into the chain of agricultural food products through quality systems and to add value to agricultural products, by promoting local markets and short supply chains, farmer groups and interprofessional organizations. The ANTIOXCERT certified functional foods can be placed in special markets, differentiating themselves from competitive products, creating added value and “building” and redefining the Greek Mediterranean Diet – in measurable terms – which, in simple words, is a purely antioxidant diet with high fats and high biological value proteins.

GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE

The pilot application of the ANTIOXCERT Standard involves a large number of agricultural products (10 in total) which are some of the main agri-food products of Greece and under the appropriate Producer Bodies’ geographical coverage (Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Central Macedonia, Peloponnese, Crete), the ANTIOXCERT Project’s dynamics covers the entire Greek area and the main part of Greek products. The repeatability of the sampling in order to include products from at least 2 cultivation seasons and the participation of a large number of recognized prestige Research Institutes and high-potential research personnel from Greece and Cyprus, ensure the extraction of safe conclusions and results.