The olive is one of the first domesticated trees in the Mediterranean, more than 5,500 years BP and is one of the few tree crop species that has preserved a significant genetic and phenotypic variability. More than 2,000 varieties are known, excluding the cases of minor ecotypes, pollinators, ancient trees, and other forms, which would increase the number to more than 4,000 genotypes. Olive germplasm is particularly rich and represents an invaluable source of variation to be used directly or for new breeding programs. Up to now, qualified researchers, technical assistance services, local authorities and numerous other stakeholders, promoted excellent activities related to olive germplasm collection, and documentation. But germplasm management is hampered by the lack of common protocols for prospection, sample collection, identification and phenotypic characterization, as well as by the restrictions on the access to resources from all countries. The genetic and phenotypic variability of the olive varieties has to be scanned, evaluated and preserved, in a perspective of variability conservation for future applications. Furthermore, the Protected Denomination of Origin for extravirgin olive oils provided by the EU, encourages defining the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of regional varieties. Within the context of climate change and the urgent need to reduce the environmental impact of olive cultivation, lower chemical inputs and increase product quality, BeFOre project has given an important contribution to mobilizing capacities to participate in, and benefit from, global efforts to manage and use olive genetic resources for a sustainable oliviculture and olive oil production. Experienced and early stage research staff, belonging to academic and non academic organisations, has actively been exchanged among European and Third Countries, ensuring a good scientific transfer of knowledge and training for a fruitful common effort on olive germplasm conservation, evaluation, and utilization.
