The Lisbon Manifesto : Why We Should All Sign It

Ricardo Migueláñez. Coordinator of the Olive Oil World Congress

Now that the Olive Oil World Congress has come to an end, I would first like to express my sincere gratitude to the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Affairs and the GPP – Office for Planning, Policy and General Administration (Gabinete de Planeamento, Políticas e Administração Geral) for their outstanding cooperation and warm hospitality in organising this event.

I would also like to thank all the organisations that helped make the Congress possible. Without their support, we would not have achieved the success we did. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the International Olive Council (IOC), CIHEAM Zaragoza, and the Mediterranean Diet Foundation.

On 3 July 2026, at the close of the Olive Oil World Congress, I announced the launch of the Lisbon Manifesto on Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Human Health, a document that brings together the current scientific consensus on the proven health benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and aims to become a practical resource for institutions around the world.

This is not merely a document filled with good intentions. It is a call to action for all the institutions that participated in the Olive Oil World Congress to promote, within their respective countries, the existing scientific evidence on the health benefits of EVOO and to encourage their health authorities to develop public policies that incorporate this knowledge into national public health strategies.

Every year, new scientific studies reinforce the role of extra virgin olive oil in the prevention of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Yet much of this evidence has still not been fully incorporated into clinical guidelines. Many healthcare professionals receive little or no specific training on the subject, and public health prevention strategies continue to overlook one of the most scientifically supported nutritional tools available.

The aim of this Manifesto is to raise awareness worldwide of the need to work with national authorities to promote EVOO consumption as part of a healthy diet. I recognise that this is more challenging within Europe, where health claims are subject to stricter regulations. However, in many other parts of the world, where there is still considerable scope for action, the Manifesto can become a highly effective advocacy tool. If the institutions that participated in the OOWC actively promote it, its impact could be significant—not only among public administrations, but also across the media and society as a whole.

We Do Not Need More Evidence. We Need Leadership.
The Manifesto sets out eight concrete commitments designed to translate scientific evidence into meaningful action. These include updating national dietary guidelines to include specific recommendations on EVOO consumption; supporting scientific research; improving the training of healthcare professionals; strengthening quality assurance and traceability systems; incorporating EVOO into hospitals, care homes and school meal programmes; reinforcing international cooperation; promoting evidence-based public awareness campaigns; and combating misinformation about dietary fats.

None of these proposals is revolutionary in itself. What is truly groundbreaking is that every organisation signing the Manifesto commits to presenting it to its respective governments, healthcare systems, international organisations and competent authorities with the objective of promoting public policies that recognise extra virgin olive oil as an essential tool for disease prevention and public health. This commitment transforms the Lisbon Manifesto into an international roadmap capable of generating tangible change wherever more progress is still needed.

Each new organisation joining the Lisbon Manifesto strengthens the position of extra virgin olive oil across the activities of the associations, companies and institutions participating in this initiative. It is a way of reaffirming—backed by robust scientific evidence—that EVOO deserves to be recognised for its contribution to disease prevention and to improving public health.

Institutions, companies and organisations wishing to join this collective commitment can do so simply by sending an email to info@oliveoilwc.com. We will provide the Manifesto for review and, once the adhesion process has been completed, they will become part of an international initiative with unprecedented global reach dedicated to promoting extra virgin olive oil and human health.

Thank you all for your commitment.