Raising the profile of Tunisian olive oil

Tunisia is one of the world’s top olive oil producing countries, with average annual exports nearing USD 0.5 billion over a three-year period.

And although the country exports most of its olive oil in bulk, some of its bottled oils are earning international acclaim, winning top prizes in prestigious competitions.

By raising quality standards and developing high-value-added products, including more bottled and organic olive oils, Tunisia can enhance the competitiveness and recognition of its oils at home and abroad.

“We are delighted to see how public-private dialogue is leading towards consensus building among industry stakeholders and the development of a shared vision and roadmap. This helps stimulate investment to create a stronger, more competitive sector,” said Antoine Sallé de Chou, Head of the EBRD’s offices in Tunisia.

The EBRD and FAO, along with Tunisia’s Office National d’Huile, have been supporting this process for several years.

Upgrading operations

Taking it to the next level means improving quality, efficiency and competitiveness across the olive oil chain, from grove to table.

This includes better cultivation and harvesting techniques, the timely and efficient transportation of olives, well-organized mills and traceability and certification systems to satisfy the requirements of large retailers and high-end markets.

During the conference, guest speakers shared their knowledge on orchard management practices, intensive olive farming and improved irrigation techniques. The latter is vital for maximizing the use of scarce water resources as well as preserving olive quality.

Participants also discussed innovations in extraction technologies to produce and preserve high quality extra virgin olive oil.

A roundtable led by Tunisian and international olive oil producers deepened the conversation around the importance of quality in a commercial strategy.

Some leading producers of Tunisian organic olive oils have invested heavily in modernizing their operations, installing advanced irrigation systems aimed at higher stability and quality, and a two-phase extraction system.

For some this is a move that is paying off, and it has even led to awards in competitions such as BIOL, an international organic olive oil competition.

One producer in particular noted that their underground drip irrigation system was producing very good results, both in terms of yields and quality, while significantly reducing water use, and insisted “the sector can play an important role in promoting policies that give producers and processors, especially smaller ones, incentives to adopt greener, more efficient technologies.”

New products

Developing the range and profile of products offered is also important for the future of Tunisia’s olive oil industry.

Tunisia’s extra virgin olive oil is mild and sweet. By creating extra virgin olive oils with diverse profiles, such as oils with different tastes, single varieties or those richer in polyphenols, Tunisian producers can reach new consumers.

Tunisia also produces three times more certified organic olive oil than Spain each year. An even larger volume of Tunisian olive oil is produced using organic or nearly organic practices without actually being certified.

Given the growing demand for organic products – the US organic market was valued at 30 billion euro in 2015 – Tunisia could strengthen its market position by building on its reputation for organic farming.

Going forward

Cooperation and communication are vital in any industry. FAO and the EBRD will continue to support a working group of Tunisian olive growers, olive oil processors, exporters, government officials and trade union representatives.

The working group has met seven times since 2015, sharing information, experiences and opinions and making concrete proposals for a stronger and more inclusive olive oil sector.

“In the last two years, we’ve seen a great deal of enthusiasm for the sector and an increasing openness to new ideas, such as the creation of a quality consortium and quality labels for Tunisian extra virgin olive oils,” said Lisa Paglietti, an FAO economist and team leader. “There’s a real willingness to change.”

“Moving forward, we need to keep this momentum and ensure that all industry stakeholders are invested in working together to achieve the twin objectives of competitiveness and recognition,” she added.

Olio Officina