Portugal's Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea Supports the OOWC

Portugal’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea has confirmed its support for the Olive Oil World Congress (OOWC)—to be held in the neighboring country in 2026—as Institutional Sponsor, joining a project that already counts on backing from various entities and organizations. Alongside this, Gallo joins as Gold Sponsor and Filippo Berio as Silver Sponsor.

To date, the congress has the support of 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 brand Campo y Alma; SOM Gastronomia of the Government of Catalonia; Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through Alimentos de España; and the Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA) as institutional sponsors. In the private sphere, the congress is supported by AgroBank, GEA, and the Spanish Olive Oil Interprofessional.

The collaboration will coordinate joint actions in outreach, sectoral networking, and knowledge transfer to improve the sector’s competitiveness, accelerate its sustainability, and boost its international projection.

In 2026, with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea as Institutional Sponsor and with new sponsors on board, the OOWC will orient its inter-congress activities toward initiatives aligned with the project’s priorities and available resources. Specific actions will be defined and communicated as planning progresses, with the goal of generating synergies and opportunities across the entire value chain, without taking on commitments beyond the scope of the agreement. Work on the program is underway, and dates and the host venue will be announced soon.

“This alliance strengthens our commitment to a sector that is strategic for the country. We want to promote the quality, sustainability, and internationalization of Portuguese olive oil, creating more value for producers and consumers,” said José Manuel Fernandes of Portugal’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea.

For his part, Ricardo Migueláñez, the project’s general coordinator, added: “This agreement positions us within the international olive oil conversation. It will enable us to build partnerships with leading forums and centers in Europe and the Mediterranean, opening new channels for collaboration and business for the entire sector.”

In short, the collaboration between Portugal’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea and the OOWC establishes a stable working framework to grow in value, accelerate sustainability, and drive the internationalization of the olive oil sector in the coming years.

For those interested in taking part, further information is available through the OOWC Technical Secretariat at +34 91 721 79 29 or info@oliveoilwc.com.