OOWC 2026 announces Its first speakers

The Olive Oil World Congress (OOWC) continues to move forward toward its next edition, which will be held on July 2 and 3, 2026, in Lisbon, with the confirmation of its first speakers: international leaders from the scientific, institutional, and business spheres who will offer a cross-cutting and complementary perspective on the major challenges shaping the present and future of the olive oil sector worldwide.

The OOWC program is structured into thematic blocks that span the entire olive oil value chain. These include global brand strategies and EVOO positioning, the relationship between olive oil and health, the analysis of carbon emissions and reduction opportunities, as well as advances in smart agriculture, genetic improvement, and the recognition of sustainability as a key differentiating value for producers and, above all, for consumers. This comprehensive approach connects science, production, innovation, and the market to project EVOO into the future.

Over the coming weeks, new speakers will be announced for each of the sessions defined by the OOWC Scientific Committee. Registration for the Olive Oil World Congress is now open, and professionals, companies, and institutions interested in attending may benefit from special registration conditions during the Congress launch period.

According to the President of the Scientific Committee, Ramzi Belkhodja, Head of Training at CIHEAM Zaragoza, “the OOWC scientific program has been designed with a comprehensive and highly participatory approach, combining high-level presentations with round-table discussions focused on debate.” “This format will make it possible to move toward concrete solutions to the main challenges currently facing the olive oil sector across its entire value chain, from production to commercialization,” he added.

Among the first confirmed speakers is Joseph R. Profaci, Executive Director of the North American Olive Oil Association, who will take part in Block I – Communication and Marketing, with the aim of analyzing the challenges and opportunities for positioning olive oil in international markets, particularly in the United States.

In the field of health, Miguel Ángel Martínez-González, an international authority in nutrition, will participate in Segment F – Olive Oil and Health, which will address the relationship between olive oil and human health, focusing on its positive impact both on human well-being and on sustainable food systems.

Sustainability and environmental impact will be represented by Juan Antonio Polo, Head of the Olive Oil Technology Department at the IOC, who will participate in Segment G – Bioeconomy and Sustainability of the Olive Oil Sector and the Industry, focusing on carbon emissions, their main challenges, and mitigation opportunities, while analyzing the role of olive groves in the fight against climate change.

From a scientific and varietal improvement perspective, Georgios Koubouris, a researcher at the Hellenic Agricultural Organization ELGO DIMITRA, will participate in Segment A – Genetics and Crop Production, where he will present the latest innovations in plant phenotyping technologies applied to olive tree improvement and climate resilience.

The event will also offer a privileged space for international networking, as well as a social program designed to encourage the exchange of knowledge and experiences among the leading stakeholders in the olive oil sector.

To date, the OOWC is supported in its organization by institutions such as the International Olive Council (IOC), CIHEAM, the Mediterranean Diet Foundation, and various public and private entities, including the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha with its Campo y Alma brand; SOM Gastronomia of the Government of Catalonia; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Spain, through “Foods of Spain”; the Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea of Portugal; and the Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), as institutional sponsors. In the private sector, the congress is supported by AgroBank and GEA.

Anyone interested in participating can obtain further information through the OOWC Technical Secretariat by calling +34 917 217 929 or sending an email to info@oliveoilwc.com