The Rising Role of Omics and Meta-Omics in Table Olive Research

Table olives are often the result of fermentation, a process where microorganisms transform raw materials into the final product. The microbial community can significantly impact the organoleptic characteristics and safety of table olives, and it is influenced by various factors, including the processing methods. Traditional culture-dependent techniques capture only a fraction of table olives’ intricate microbiota, prompting a shift toward culture-independent methods to address this knowledge gap. This review explores recent advances in table olive research through omics and meta-omics approaches. Genomic analysis of microorganisms isolated from table olives has revealed multiple genes linked to technological and probiotic attributes. An increasing number of studies concern metagenomics and metabolomics analyses of table olives. The former offers comprehensive insights into microbial diversity and function, while the latter identifies aroma and flavor determinants. Although proteomics and transcriptomics studies remain limited in the field, they have the potential to reveal deeper layers of table olives’ microbiome composition and functionality. Despite the challenges associated with implementing multi-omics approaches, such as the reliance on advanced bioinformatics tools and computational resources, they hold the promise of groundbreaking advances in table olive processing technology.