The OOWC program: science, business and more

The Olive Oil World Congress (OOWC), a meeting that will bring together all operators in the sector and will be held from June 26 to 28 at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in Madrid.

Yesterday, the Technical Secretariat together with the Scientific and Organizing Committee of the OOWC met in order to finalize a comprehensive program of presentations, focused on presenting new developments and innovations in the value chain of the olive grove and olive oil industry.

For the moment, the OOWC is offering a preview of the event's protagonists, although it is only a taste of what is to come. In the coming weeks it will unveil the rest of the speakers, a group of experts from various parts of the world including technology centers, research centers, universities and operators that will leave no one indifferent.

Jaime Lillo, executive director of the International Olive Council (IOC), will open the meeting on June 26 with a plenary lecture entitled "Current situation, challenges and prospects of the world olive sector.

This congress will be structured in eight thematic blocks and, on the first day, will deal with 'Olive oil facing climate change'; 'Genetics and crop production'; and 'Challenges in manufacturing Processes: Digital transformation and valorization of by-products'.

International personalities such as Georgios Koubouris, researcher and head of the Olive Growing Laboratory at the Institute of Olive, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture of Greece; Concepción Muñoz, researcher of the 'Gen4Olive' project at the University of Córdoba; and Juan Antonio Polo, head of Olive Oil Technology and Environment at the IOC.

The day of June 27 will begin with the block destined to 'Product Quality and safety', followed by 'Sensory properties' and will conclude with the theme 'Communication and marketing'. The presentations of Plácido Pascual Morales, head of the Virgin Olive Oil Tasting Panel of the Agrifood Laboratory of Córdoba; Mercedes Fernández, head of the Standardization and Research Unit of the IOC; Wenceslao Moreda, head of the International Olive Oil Council Panel, member of the IOC expert committee and researcher of the CSIC; and representatives of leading companies in the sector will be highlighted. In addition, the second day will end with a gala dinner at the Real Casino de Madrid.

Finally, Friday, June 28 will be dedicated to 'Trade and consumption' and 'Olive oil, health and gastronomy', where leading experts such as David Valmorbida, president of the Australian Olive Oil Association (AOOA); Antonio Escribano, Professor of Sports Nutrition at the Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM); Di Yang, vegetable oil expert in the FAO Markets and Trade Division; and Yousra Antit, head of the IOC's Olive Oil Chemistry Department, will share their knowledge and experience in their respective fields of expertise.

Find out more about the congress program by visiting this link.

To attend the Congress, which already has more than 100 registered participants, click here. In addition, until April 1st, those interested can benefit from a 15% discount for early payment in the different modalities foreseen: general, student or half congress, with or without gala dinner.

Under the slogan 'Taste it, enjoy it, it's olive oil', the OOWC counts on the collaboration of AgroBank, CIA - Agricoltori Italiani, FOI, MSC Group, John Deere and the Junta de Andalucía through its brand 'Gusto del Sur' as Platinum sponsors; Grupo Interóleo, Yara International, GEA, Todolivo and Balam Agriculture as Gold sponsors; Agrocolor as Merchandising sponsor; the company Kubota and SGS as Silver sponsors. Agrotec, Voz do Campo, Puglia Live, Grupo Joly and Oleo are the Media Partners of the OOWC.

Anyone interested in participating on the congress can obtain information from the OOWC Technical Secretariat by calling +34 917217929 or by sending an email to info@oliveoilwc.com