From waste to value: can olive tree prunings power local communities?

What if these residues could be used differently?

What would it take for farmers to stop burning and start valorizing them? These were some of the key questions explored during the PRIMARY co-creation workshop held in Arkalochori, Crete.

Why does this matter?

Olive cultivation is one of the most important agricultural activities in Crete, generating large quantities of pruning residues every year. Despite their potential, these biomass streams remain largely underutilized.

Within the framework of the PRIMARY project, the Greek pilot focuses on developing sustainable and locally adapted value chains for olive pruning residues. The goal is to reduce waste, improve biomass management and explore new opportunities for local energy production and circular economy development.

The challenge is not only technological — it is practical. Any proposed solution must fit the realities of local farmers, machinery operators and municipalities.
What did we do?

To address this challenge, PRIMARY brought together olive producers, agronomists, machinery operators, engineers, cooperatives and local authorities in a co-creation workshop designed to explore realistic biomass valorisation pathways.

Figure 1: Cretan Workshop at Arkalochori, 8 May 2026. (Credit: CERTH )

Participants evaluated four alternative pathways:

• Direct combustion of olive tree prunings for heat production
• Pelletisation of olive tree prunings and combustion for heat production
• Pelletisation of olive tree prunings, gasification for electricity and biochar production for soil improvement
• Pelletisation of olive tree prunings, gasification for electricity and biochar production for soil improvement combined with compost and particle boards

Rather than simply presenting technical options, the workshop created space for open discussions around practical implementation.

One of the most common issues that quickly emerged as a shared concern had to do with the collection and logistics.

Stakeholders stressed that without efficient systems for collecting, shredding and transporting olive prunings, even the most promising technological solutions would struggle to succeed.

What did we learn?

The workshop showed that farmers are highly aware of the environmental impacts of open-field burning. At the same time, they made it clear that any transition towards alternative biomass management must also deliver practical, economic and operational benefits.

Discussions highlighted three key points:

• Olive pruning residues should be seen as a valuable resource, not as waste.
• Cooperation between farmers, cooperatives, machinery operators and local authorities is essential.
• Locally adapted solutions are critical for long-term success.

An encouraging outcome of the workshop was the strong willingness of local stakeholders to support future pilot activities, with several farmers expressing interest in participating in further testing and field demonstrations.

What comes next?

The workshop played a key role in defining the next steps of the PRIMARY pilot in Crete by identifying practical challenges, opportunities, and local priorities for biomass valorisation.

The next phase will focus on pilot implementation, optimisation of biomass collection and logistics, and the validation of biomass-to-energy solutions under real operating conditions. The transition from open-field burning to the sustainable valorisation of agricultural biomass requires technological innovation, effective coordination among stakeholders, targeted investments, and the active engagement of local communities.

The discussions held in Arkalochori demonstrated a strong willingness among local stakeholders to embrace this transition. The value of olive tree prunings is no longer in question; the challenge now is to unlock this potential through practical, scalable, and sustainable solutions.

Author: Dimitra Plessa, CERTH

*Hero image by Leopictures from Pixabay