- More than 300 registered participants of 25 nationalities will meet during these three days in the Spanish capital
- Javad Mirarab (CIO): “The OOWC will bring together a global community like the olive oil community more intimately and with a dual motivation: to examine problems and solve shortcomings”
Madrid, 26 June 2024.- It opened this morning in the auditorium of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) the first edition of the World Olive Oil Congress (OOWC) which, from today until June 28, becomes the world capital of olive oil. This is a meeting that is being organized for the first time in the world and that will concern all the sectors in the production of this product, with the aim of presenting the main technological innovations that will allow the sector to face the challenge of climate change and improve its competitiveness in the future.
More than 300 registered participants Of 25 nationalities will meet during these three days in this meeting which is aimed at all types of professionals, operators and researchers in the sector, which was created with the aim of becoming the most important event in the world for the industry every two years.
They participated in the opening and institutional act of the OOWC Francisco Javier MorenoVice President of International Relations of the CSIC; Pedro Barato, president of the Spanish Olive Oil Interprofessional; Raúl Compesdirector of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) in Zaragoza; Abdessalem Loued, President of the IOC Advisory Board; And Javad MirarabPresident of the International Olive Council (IOC).
Barato he emphasized that “this congress will be the place where we begin to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. And, honestly, I am happy that it is held in Spain, since few sectors of the world economy offer such solid leadership as that of our country in olive oil.”
Compés he said that we must all work together, investing in knowledge and human capital to improve this sector. Loued, however, underlined the need for innovation: “Quality is fundamental to conquer large markets that are not yet convinced to use olive oil in their diet. We must produce quality and offer this product to everyone’s consumers at the best possible price and, for this, we need innovation.”
For Mirarab“this event will undoubtedly bring together a global community like the olive oil community and with a double motivation: to examine the problems and solve the shortcomings”.
At the end of this institutional event, Jamie LilloExecutive Director of the IOC, gave the inaugural presentation “A vision for the future: facing challenges, exploiting opportunities”, in which he stated that “we must produce more oil and in a sustainable way, even if we also face the challenge of globalization. Our role is that, no matter where in the world someone opens a bottle of olive oil, they have a nice experience.”
Climate change, lack of water and many other problems that have occurred in the last two years have generated a significant decrease in campaigns around the world. “The celebration of the first edition of the OOWC is an important opportunity for all global producers to exchange experiences and knowledge that will allow them to improve production structures and prepare them to face the near future, not just the next one. in the Mediterranean area but also in the new producing countries”, he said Ricardo Migueláñezgeneral coordinator of the congress, who spoke during the opening of the congress.
As it could not be otherwise, during the OOWC the theory will also be put into practice and, with the help of the Interóleo Groupall conference lunches and breakfasts will be accompanied by extra virgin olive oil from this company, one of the most important global marketing operators.
With the slogan “Taste it, enjoy it, it’s olive oil”, the OOWC has the collaboration of AgroBank, MSC, CIA-Italian Farmers, John Deere, The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through its strategy #alimentosdEspaña, the Spanish Olive Oil Interprofessional, there Junta de Andalucía through his “Gusto del Sur” brand“, Italian olive oil supply chain And ‘Campo y Alma’, the food quality guarantee mark of Castile-La Manchaas a Platinum sponsor; Grupo Interoleo, Büttner, Yara International, GEA, OLEOMAQ-Oleotec, AGQ Labs And Balam Agriculture as a Gold sponsor; the societies Kubota, Hispatec, Asoliva, Todolivo And SGS as a Silver sponsor; Agrocolor like the other sponsors. Agrotec, Voz do Campo, PugliaLive, Group Jolly And Oil are the Media Partners of the OOWC.
About the OOWC:
The World Olive Oil Congress (OOWC) is an event that will bring together the world’s leading speakers in every field, generating knowledge on the news and innovations existing in every link of the value chain. It will bring together all operators in the sector worldwide, with the aim of joining forces to continue working together. Bearing in mind that Spain is a world leader in the production, marketing and exports of olive oil, it was decided that the first edition will be held in Madrid in 2024, although the project started in 2023 with the promotional actions of “En route to OOWC-2024”. After this first edition, the venue will be itinerant, even if intercongress activities will take place all over the world.
