The Olive Wellness Institute (OWI) has had a highly productive first phase. In just 12 months, the OWI team has developed a library of resources which provide credible, evidence-based information on the nutrition, health and wellness benefits related to olive products – and delivered them to relevant health professionals and the olive industry.
They’re now planning for the next phase of activity, starting with market research to determine the relevant knowledge base of relevant professionals and whether that has changed due to the Institute’s work.
The survey “The Health, Nutrition and Wellness Benefits of Olive Products” was launched last week, targeted at professionals across the medical, health and food science/technology sectors. Conducted by independent research organisation Ekas, the survey aims to gauge participants’ opinions regarding the various benefits of olive products and a range of other common dietary oils.
The questionnaire explores the participants’ familiarity with various olive products – EVOO, olive oil, olive leaf extract, olive-based skin care products and extracted compounds – and their understanding of how beneficial, if at all, each of the olive products are for people’s general health and wellbeing.
It asks them to rate:
- the various products in terms of their benefits for heart health, Type 2 diabetes and immune system improvement;
- EVOO and a number of other common dietary oils in terms of their:
(a) benefits for general health and wellbeing
(b) antioxidant content
(c) suitability for cooking
- the likelihood that they would professionally recommend each of the oils listed, and the range of olive products, for their health benefits.
The survey also explores their knowledge of extra virgin olive oil, and Australian EVOO specifically, and of the Olive Wellness Institute and its work.
Grower survey
The Olive Wellness Institute’s resources are also there to assist producers in their education and marketing activities, so they’re keen to know what industry think of the initiative to date.
OWI’s Sarah Gray: “We’re seeking feedback from olive growers and processors across Australia so we can continue to improve our offering into the future. We’ve created a quick and easy survey – just five questions – which we’re inviting all levy payers to take part in.”
Access the survey here.
About the project
The Olive Wellness Institute is part of the strategic investment project Educating Health Professionals about Australian Olive Products OL17002, partially funded by Hort Innovation, using the Olive Fund research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
