Working with Nature
not against it

At Oleaphen, we're committed to playing the infinite game of wellness and sustainability. Our core values revolve around the symbiotic relationship between human health and environmental well-being.

We believe in nurturing the microbiome - both in our soil and in your gut - as the foundation for holistic wellness. Our approach goes beyond mere product creation; we're fostering a lifestyle that embraces physical, mental, and environmental health.

Through regenerative agriculture and cutting-edge extraction techniques, we produce high-potency, nutrient-dense olive oil that supports your body's natural resilience.

We're not just selling a product; we're inviting you to join a movement towards better living, one step at a time. Our mission is to inspire and empower you to reach your highest potential, creating a ripple effect of wellness that extends from our groves to your daily life and beyond.

Radically Different

Phenolic excellence

TERROIR

Cyprus's unique terroir further elevates our olive oils. Blessed with a geology found nowhere else in the world, combined with a Mediterranean climate and proximity to the sea, our groves bask in ideal conditions for olive cultivation. The intense heat of our summers, tempered by cooling sea breezes, imbues our olives with a richness and depth of flavor unmatched elsewhere.

CUTTING-EDGE EXTRACTION

Our olives are harvested at the peak of freshness, handpicked early in the season to capture their optimal flavor and health benefits. Swiftly transported in refrigerated trucks, they undergo cold extraction at our state-of-the-art mill. Here, minimal malaxation time ensures the preservation of delicate flavors and phenolic componds, resulting in an unparalleled taste experience and the highest phenolic olive oil avaible.

PERMACULTURE

At the heart of our exceptional olive oil lies our commitment to sustainable cultivation practices. Embracing permaculture methods, we prioritize biodiversity, fostering a harmonious ecosystem where diverse plant life, insects, and wildlife thrive. Our zero-kill policy and avoidance of pesticides, organic or otherwise, underscore our dedication to environmental stewardship.

CARBON NEGATIVE

Our olive oil is not just carbon-neutral—it's carbon negative. From cultivation to distribution, we sequester more carbon than we emit, actively fighting climate change. For every liter of our olive oils it is 16 kg of carbon that are sequestreted in our groves.

And with full traceability from grove to table, you can trust that every bottle embodies our values of quality, integrity, and environmental responsibility.

Our Ethics

Beyond Organic

Carbon Negative

Pesticide and Pollutant Free

Vegan & Cruelty Free

Regenerative Agriculture

Traceability & Transparency

Community Engagement

Meet the Team

Nicolas Netien

Nicolas Netien is a renowned expert in the field of olive oil production, particularly celebrated for his work on polyphenols. He has dedicated his career to advancing the quality and health benefits of olive oil. Nicolas holds the world record for the highest concentration of polyphenols in olive oil, achieving a remarkable 4943 mg per liter. This achievement has set a new standard in the industry, highlighting the potent antioxidant properties and health benefits of high-polyphenol olive oils.

In 2024, Nicolas became a founding member of Oleaphen, a company dedicated to making high-phenolic olive oil accessible to a broader audience. Oleaphen aims to educate consumers on the health benefits of polyphenol-rich olive oil and ensure that this superior quality product reaches as many people as possible. Through his pioneering work and commitment to excellence, Nicolas Netien continues to be a leading figure in the olive oil industry, promoting better health through his innovative and high-quality olive oil products.

A passionate teacher and lecturer, Nicolas’ mission is to help speed up the world’s transition towards sustainable and circular production systems.
He has been awarded the rank of Knight of the Order of Agricultural Merit by the French Republic for his work in the field of agro-ecology.

Elena Christoforos

Elena Christoforos is the owner and manager of Akaki Grove, a farm known for its commitment to permaculture and sustainable agriculture.

Elena's passion for nature began in childhood, exploring the outdoors with simple tools and a camera, and reading books on the natural world.

Her dedication to health and wellness includes a focus on psychology, nutrition, and sports—especially tennis. Active in sports teams since middle school, she became an ITF tennis coach in 2024.

Elena's career path includes studying in the UK, working in mental health, and engaging with autistic children, which sparked her interest in high phenolic extra virgin olive oil (HPEVOO).

At Oleaphen, Elena blends her passions to create products and environments that benefit people and the planet. Her farm produces olives and citrus using permaculture methods, emphasizing biodiversity. She believes in the importance of educating the youth for a better future and loves research and innovation, continually exploring the potential of Oleaphen's products to enhance lives and the environment.

Elena's holistic approach and dedication are key to the Oleaphen team.

Nicholas Schizas

Coming from the UK, producing olive oil was the last thing Nick ever thought he would be involved in. However, when studies came out in 2011 about all the health benefits High Phenolic Olive Oil offers, it grabbed his attention to the point that he had to follow his past generations and set his focus upon the olive oil industry.

Nick originally worked in the football industry and was a licensed FIFA agent to professional football players across major leagues in Europe, Asia, North and South America.

Since giving some High Phenolic for players to try and the positive response they gave, in addition to the feedback from friends and family, he had to turn his focus on naturally developing high levels of polyphenols in olive oil.

Nick has maintained olive groves in the Solea region of Cyprus since 2013 and sharing the strong values of the Oleaphen team, is now focused on helping people to develop their whole wellness spectrum in order to get that competitive advantage in life.

Akaki Grove - Kot-Kot Project

The Story Behind Kot-Kot

Kot-Kot began as an innovative solution to accelerate soil regeneration while upholding ethical animal welfare practices. Nicolas Netien, known for his pioneering work in regenerative agriculture, was collaborating with Elena Christoforou on her family’s olive farm at Akaki Grove. Recognizing the need for animals to enhance the carbon cycle and enrich the soil, he proposed introducing livestock to the olive groves. However, Elena was firm—she wanted no animals to be harmed.

This challenge sparked an idea. Nicolas reached out to Nick Schizas, who's father is a free-range egg producer, and proposed rescuing hens that were otherwise destined for slaughter. With the hens secured, the next obstacle was feeding them sustainably. Instead of relying on conventional feed, Kot-Kot was born—a circular economy project that repurposes food waste to sustain retired laying hens, simultaneously tackling multiple environmental issues.

How It Works

Turning Food Waste into a Resource

Cyprus generates the highest per capita food waste in Europe, with almost 300kg/capita per year. This waste decomposes in landfills, releasing methane emissions equivalent to 756,000 tonnes of CO₂—It represents 10% of the carbon footprint of each cypriot. Kot-Kot intercepts this waste, collecting surplus food from schools, bakeries, and restaurants to nourish its rescued hens, transforming waste into a valuable resource.

Regenerating Soil & Building Climate Resilience

At Akaki Grove, the hens play a critical role in revitalizing the land. Through natural foraging and scratching, they accelerate the breakdown of ground cover vegetation, increasing soil organic matter and enhancing fertility. Just a 1% increase in soil organic matter boosts water retention by over 75 m³ per hectare—an essential adaptation in a region heavily impacted by climate change. By fostering healthy soils, Kot-Kot is improving drought resilience and advancing regenerative farming.

Zero-Kill, No Pesticides, More Biodiversity

Akaki Grove operates under a strict zero-kill policy and do not use any pesticides, organic or synthetic. Instead, biodiversity is leveraged to maintain a stable agro-ecosystem. The hens naturally manage pest populations, while beneficial insects such as spiders help regulate the remaining balance. This holistic approach strengthens the soil microbiome and enhances the overall health of the olive groves.

Producing Olive Oil High in Polyphenols

The direct link between soil health and olive tree resilience is undeniable. As polyphenols serve as the plant’s immune defense, the improved vitality of the olive trees at Akaki Grove has resulted in exceptionally high polyphenol content in the olives. This enables the production of one of the world’s richest polyphenol olive oils—something made possible through the symbiotic work of the hens and regenerative agricultural techniques.

Community Response & Scaling Up

Kot-Kot’s impact extends beyond agriculture. The project began with a single school in Nicosia, using the initiative to educate children about food waste, sustainability, and the origins of their food. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with schools, bakeries, and food businesses eager to participate. In fact, some individuals have even started leaving unwanted chickens at the farm’s gates!

To scale this initiative, institutional and private support is essential. Expanding the flock, refining collection logistics, and constructing additional mobile coops with protective fencing will help Kot-Kot grow. The ultimate goal is to establish a replicable model that other farmers can implement—optimizing hen population, rotation schedules, and landscape integration for maximum environmental and agricultural benefits.

By intertwining ethical animal welfare, regenerative farming, and sustainable food systems, Kot-Kot is redefining the future of olive cultivation—proving that nature itself holds the key to producing the finest olive oil high in polyphenols.

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Working with Nature not against it