It is not common for four ministers from different continents to gather at an olive oil industry congress. The Olive Oil World Congress (OOWC) achieved just that. Its second edition, held in Lisbon on 2 and 3 July, brought together nearly 380 professionals from 43 countries and featured the active participation of José Manuel Fernandes (Minister for Agriculture and Maritime Affairs, Portugal), Anton Refalo (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, Malta), Rezq Salimiya (Minister of Agriculture, State of Palestine) and Rana Tanveer Hussain (Minister for National Food Security and Research, Pakistan), alongside Julián Martínez Lizán, Regional Minister for Agriculture of Castilla-La Mancha, and Jaime Lillo, Executive Director of the International Olive Council (IOC).
The broad institutional representation and participation of professionals from 43 countries, including the world's leading olive oil-producing nations, made it possible to reach a consensus that will be reflected in the Lisbon Manifesto, an open document that will continue to welcome future contributions. It has been developed from the scientific presentations, technical debates and institutional meetings held throughout the Congress.
Conceived as a roadmap for the global olive oil sector, the document will serve public administrations, international organisations and stakeholders across the entire olive oil value chain.
"The Lisbon Manifesto reflects the maturity achieved by the Olive Oil World Congress as a platform for dialogue and cooperation. We want it to be a useful, open and living document, capable of guiding the sector's decisions on the basis of scientific knowledge and a truly international consensus," said Ricardo Migueláñez, General Coordinator of the OOWC.
The Manifesto conveys a clear message: health is the greatest value that olive oil offers to the world. This conviction, supported by decades of scientific research, should guide public policy, research and communication across the sector. The document is intended to remain a living text, open to new contributions from experts and participating countries.
Two High-Impact Days: From Artificial Intelligence in Olive Groves to the Lisbon Manifesto
The opening keynote, delivered by scientist Fabrice DeClerck, set the tone for the event by presenting olive oil as a model for the global transition towards healthier diets and olive groves as agricultural systems capable of capturing carbon and enhancing biodiversity through regenerative farming practices.
The second day placed innovation firmly at the centre of discussions. Experts confirmed that artificial intelligence is already the most widely adopted technology in olive growing, with digital management platforms enabling farmers to plan field operations with unprecedented precision. Discussions also focused on the circular economy—with olive pomace, wastewater and olive pits emerging as new sources of value—climate change adaptation through advanced genetics and smart irrigation, global branding strategies for extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), and the latest scientific evidence on its health benefits. Regarding international markets, IOC Executive Director Jaime Lillo highlighted that one out of every three litres of olive oil produced in the Mediterranean is now consumed outside the region, making international cooperation a strategic necessity for the sector.
The global reach of the Congress was also reflected in the diversity of its participants. Portugal was the largest delegation, with 124 professionals, followed by Spain with 84. Representatives also attended from leading olive oil-producing countries including Morocco, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Algeria, the State of Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Iran, as well as key growth markets such as Malaysia, the United States, Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, Chile, Nigeria, Argentina and Australia.
The OOWC also welcomed a delegation from Women in Olive, the international network promoting female leadership within the olive oil sector. During the Congress, both organisations announced the launch of a collaboration that will be developed through joint initiatives in the coming months.
Unprecedented Media Coverage in Portugal
The Congress's international profile was also reflected in its media impact. The OOWC generated around 40 direct media appearances across more than 20 Portuguese news outlets, marking unprecedented coverage for an event of this kind in the country.
Among the headlines published were "Lisbon, the World Capital of Olive Oil", "Portuguese Olive Oil Among the Best in the World but with Room for Growth", "Drones, AI and Automated Mills: The Technological Revolution Has Already Reached Olive Groves", and "The Future of Olive Oil Depends on Innovation, Tradition and Investment".
The second edition of the Olive Oil World Congress consolidates the growth of this initiative and opens a new chapter with the development of the Lisbon Manifesto, which is set to become a benchmark framework for strengthening international cooperation and addressing the major challenges facing the global olive oil sector.
The Congress received institutional support from the International Olive Council (IOC), CIHEAM Zaragoza and the Mediterranean Diet Foundation, together with public bodies including Portugal's Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Affairs, the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha (Campo y Alma), the Government of Catalonia, the Regional Government of Andalusia and IMIDRA.
The second edition was also supported by private-sector partners including Olivum, AgroBank, BPI (CaixaBank Group), the Spanish Olive Oil Interprofessional Association, GEA Group, Novonesis-Univar Solutions, APOAC (Associação para a Promoção do Olival e Azeite de Aire e Candeeiros) through its commercial brand Olivedos do Carso, Adsaica (Associação de Desenvolvimento das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros), Feria de Zaragoza (ENOMAQ), Kubota, Dazeite and Siliker.
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