Olive oil from Trás-os-Montes launches the first Digital Passport for Portuguese products.

A pioneering project by Azeite a Norte, Data CoLAB and ACUSHLA brings complete traceability to Gold Edition olive oil, anticipating a European requirement that will transform the market.

Traceability is no longer just good practice — it will become mandatory in the European Union. And Trás-os-Montes is at the forefront of this revolution. The Gold Edition olive oil, produced in Vila Flor, is the first Portuguese olive oil with a Digital Product Passport (DPP), a pioneering system that allows consumers to access, through a simple QR Code, the complete history of the product: from the olive grove to the bottle.

What is the Digital Product Passport

The DPP is a European Union digital system that gathers essential information about a product throughout its entire life cycle. Each product then has a unique digital identity, accessible through technologies such as QR Code or NFC.

This instrument integrates the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products (ESPR) Regulation, a key component of the European Green Deal and the European Circular Economy Action Plan. The objective is clear: to make products on the European market more sustainable, durable, circular and transparent, while combating greenwashing.

For the consumer, it means being able to confirm:

• True origin of raw materials

• Production and transformation processes

• Environmental impact and carbon footprint

• Certifications and regulatory compliance

• Instructions for use, repair and recycling

Trás-os-Montes at the forefront of transparency

According to Data CoLAB, the project allowed for real-world testing of the Digital Product Passport application in the agri-food sector, demonstrating how digital traceability can:

• Strengthen total transparency.

• Increase consumer confidence.

• To generate economic value for the territory.

• Combating fraud and counterfeits

  
  

For a region like Trás-os-Montes, where authenticity has always been a non-negotiable value, this project is not just about regulatory compliance — it's about affirming identity.

A challenge that is also an opportunity

For Portuguese companies, especially SMEs in the agri-food sector, the DPP represents an adaptation challenge. Implementation will be gradual:

Projected timeline:

• 2025-2026: First sectors (textiles, batteries, electronics, construction)

• 2026-2027: Gradual expansion to the agri-food sector

• Medium term: Mandatory condition for access to the European market.

  
  

For those who anticipate the changes — as the Trás-os-Montes project is doing — the DPP (Development Partnership Program) can become a differentiating tool, not just a legal obligation.

According to the European Commission, products with protected Geographical Indication sell for 2 to 3 times more than common products. With full digital traceability, this value increase could be even greater.

Olive tourism and digital transparency

This project highlights a trend: the future of olive oil tourism lies in verifiable experiences. Simply visiting an olive mill isn't enough — visitors want to confirm that the olive oil they take home truly has that story behind it.

For regions investing in olive tourism, the DPP (Digital Planning Project) can become a powerful tool:

• Tours with QR Codes in Olive Groves

• Traceability from the specific tree

• Verifiable digital storytelling

• Differentiation in saturated markets

  
  

Trás-os-Montes, with its centuries-old olive groves, breathtaking landscapes, and passionate producers, has everything it needs to transform this regulatory requirement into a competitive advantage in rural tourism.

The future is transparent

More than a regulatory obligation, the Digital Product Passport represents a new paradigm in the European economy: products that are more informed, more responsible, and more connected to their social and environmental context.

For regions like Trás-os-Montes, with a strong territorial identity and products of high heritage value, the DPP can become a strategic asset in an increasingly demanding and conscious market.

Vila Flor's Gold Edition olive oil already shows the way: when the product is authentic and the territory is genuine, total transparency is not a risk—it's a competitive advantage.

Centennial olive groves. Endemic varieties. Certified production. Complete traceability. Verifiable history.

The future of olive oil is digital. And it starts in Trás-os-Montes.

👉 Learn more about the Azeite a Norte traceability project and watch the explanatory video: https://www.azeiteanorte.pt/rastreabilidade

Keywords: digital passport, DPP, traceability, Azeite a Norte, Gold Edition olive oil, Data CoLAB, ACUSHLA, Trás-os-Montes, transparency, circular economy, QR Code olive oil