The International Olive Council has a very dense agenda of initiatives for the final part of the year. They range from strictly economic matters, also related to market statistical data, to focus on research, including an important meeting involving the most prestigious scholars and another rendez-vous, in preparation to an international workshop that will be held in Davis, US, in January 2018, to finish with promotional activities in Japan, United States and China

Published by Mercacei, the second edition of the Guide presents the World's Best 100 extra virgin olive oils, recognized at the Evooleum Awards, international prizes for quality in extra virgin olive oil, organized by Aemo, Spanish Association of Olive municipalities, and Mercacei

Innovation. In the era of visual and tactile communication, Arconvert provides the most effective materials to trigger stimuli and emotions, depending on the relevant target. Interview with marketing manager Chiara Tomasi

The greatest challenge is to condense the identity of a product into a few square inches of paper. Unlike wine, oil labels – apart from a very few interesting projects of packaging – are more formal, with similar colour schemes, consisting of various shades of green and yellow, and with a more central and traditional design

For years, extra virgin olive oil bottles have been austere, but they have slowly and progressively changed, so much that they have reached the segment of luxury, as high fashion has done

World Production of Olive Oil will increase by 5% next season. According to the last international forecast coordinated by Juan Vilar, Strategic Consultant and Professor of the University of Jaén (UJA); and Jorge Pereira, Professor at the University of the Republic of Uruguay, a global production of olive oil of 2,826,890 tons is expected in the 2017/18 season, representing an increase by 5% regarding the previous season

Imports of olive oil and olive-pomace oil in China increased steadily. As regards the origin of imports, in the last crop year, 95% came from countries in the European Union. In the 2015/16 crop year, China produced 5000 t of olive oil, which is a 75% increase compared to the previous year

Proposal for the harmonisation of the customs system as regards the virgin olive oil group (1509 and 1510). International Olive Council is proposing that the WCO consider the possibility of aligning the customs headings with the definitions established in the IOC standard for olive oils and olive-pomace oils, providing a definition for each heading, with a view to improving market transparency, preventing fraud and, ultimately, protecting product quality and consumers

Customers nowadays want to be part of the project behind the production process leading to the creation of products and provision of services. They are no longer spectators in the marketing theatre

According to the new figures received, world production of olive oil in 2016/17 will decrease by approximately 20% compared to the previous crop year. This decrease is the result of a fall in production in producer countries in general and in particular in European producer countries, which will together see a 25% decrease

It is unwise to be overly thrifty when choosing what olive oil to buy. Rather than the apparently lower price, one should consider the best quality-price ratio and the flavouring efficiency of the oil. There is a problem however: although it is deeply rooted in our culinary tradition, we are still incapable of discerning good from bad oil.

At the invitation of the Italian authorities, the 105th session of the Council of Members of the International Olive Council will be held in Rome (Italy) from 23 to 26 May 2017. Olive growing is an important agricultural activity in Italy, generating 3 151 million euros in the olive oil sector, and accounting for 2.4% of the value of agrifood production

Why is it that undergraduate master’s degrees in olive tree cultivation and oil-making techniques have very little success, and never evolve to more advanced degrees? Why is it that no attempt is made to change vocational education and bring a breath of fresh air to a sector now at a standstill? And what about the role of the oil specialist? Where can one acquire blending skills? There are no specific courses for future blenders. And even the schools for professional tasters have great limitations

The olive growing area in Portugal is of 352 000 ha, of which 23% is irrigated while the rest is rain-fed. The largest olive tree domains are found in the Alentejo region, which accounts for 50% of the total olive growing area, followed by Tras-os-Montes (22%), Centro (18%); Ribatejo (7.7 %) and Algarve ( 2.3%). Close to 97.5% of the total surface area is used to grow olives for olive oil, while the rest is used for table olives. Six per cent of the olive growing area is used for organic olive farming.

In recent years, great efforts have been made to improve the quality of extra virgin olive oil, but what about its appearance? Is design a critical factor? Packaging, a key tool in sensory marketing, strongly influences the choices made by customers standing in front of a supermarket shelf crammed with bottles of similar price and quality