Based on Greek legislation, the botanical origin can be attributed for eight categories of pure honey: pine, fir, thyme, orange, heather, chestnut, cotton and sunflower
In protecting and highlighting the quality of honey, the Region of Crete is advancing through a program contract with the Technical University of Crete.
The contract, the content of which is presented by APE-MPE, is entitled “Research program for highlighting and differentiating the geographical and botanical origin of samples of honey from the prefecture of Chania”.
The purpose of the project
The purpose of the project is to highlight and preserve the quality and uniqueness of the honey produced in the prefecture of Chania, with the help of modern studies of the chemical characteristics of honey, thus contributing to the support of the beekeepers of the local community, at a time when this sector is particularly affected by issues of counterfeiting and Greekization of products.
In this research project, 100 samples of monovarietal honey (thyme) from beekeepers of the prefecture of Chania will be analyzed in order to evaluate the profile of the samples. The latter includes the substances that contribute to the imprint of the honey but also contribute to its aroma (thus also to consumer preference). These studies are expected to determine for the first time the volatile footprint of botanical and geographical origin of thyme honey produced in the prefecture of Chania.
As the Deputy Regional Governor for Entrepreneurship, Trade, Innovation and Social Economy states in APE-MPE, Antonis Papaderakis“the Region proceeds to finance this research activity which is implemented by the Laboratory of Mrs. Elia Psyllakis, who is also the scientific manager of the project on the part of the Technical University of Crete.
This specific project is important as it will significantly contribute to the highlighting of the special characteristics of Chanio and Cretan honey with the aim of better certification and promotion for the benefit of local producers as well.”
According to Mr. Papaderakis, another issue that this specific project investigates is the issue of oil adulteration.
For this matter, there is already cooperation with MAICH.
“Our aim as a Region is to cooperate with the academic and research institutions of Crete in important actions”, emphasizes Mr. Papaderakis.
The methodology with the “language” of science
The determination will be made using instrumental analysis and the application of modern chemometric tools. More specifically, the instrumental analysis will be achieved using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), while the extraction will be done using the Solid Phase Microextraction technique under vacuum conditions and normal atmospheric pressure. Using the same methodology, 40 samples of thyme honey from beekeepers from other regions of Greece will also be analyzed in order to determine the variation of the volatile profile according to the geomorphology of Greece, the flora and the prevailing climatic conditions. Finally, 20 samples of widely available commercial thyme honey products will be analyzed with the same methodology to investigate changes in quality compared to bee-derived products. Beekeeping is a dynamic branch of Greek animal production.
The “x-ray” of honey
Based on Greek legislation, the botanical origin can be attributed to eight categories of pure honey: pine, fir, thyme, orange, heather, chestnut, cotton and sunflower. Problems, however, appear several times when exclusive use is made of the percentage of characteristic pollen grains, making it necessary to update the specifications of the identified pure categories of honey and to find new methodologies to determine their botanical and geographical identity.
The cooperation between the Region and the Polytechnic
The Region of Crete (main of the Project), within the framework of its responsibilities and its development role, tries to protect and preserve the botanical and geographical identity of the honeys that come from the geographical area of ​​the prefecture of Chania. However, it does not have the necessary technical-scientific personnel with special know-how and experience for the implementation of the research project in question.
The Technical University of Crete (Implementing Agency) has the required know-how, experience and appropriate scientific staff to carry out the research program.
An important role in the action is also played by the Directorate of Rural Development of the PE of Chania. In the context of the implementation of this specific action, a joint monitoring committee is established.
RES-EMP
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