CÓRDOBA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) — Morocco has been elected to the presidency of the International Olive Council (IOC) for 2026, following a vote held Thursday during the organization’s 122nd session in Córdoba.
The election underscores the central role of olive cultivation in Morocco, one of the IOC’s eleven founding members, which has maintained a longstanding presence within the body, whose members account for 94% of global olive production.
Established in 1959 in Madrid under the auspices of the United Nations, the IOC is the only intergovernmental organisation dedicated to olive oil and table olives. According to MAP, the 122nd session was marked by the adoption of the Córdoba Declaration, defining a shared global vision for sustainable olive growing.
Endorsed by agriculture ministers and partner international organizations, the declaration signals a collective commitment to promoting, modernising, and strengthening resilience across the olive sector. It reaffirms the strategic importance of the olive tree—described as a millennia-old symbol of peace, wisdom, and civilization—and highlights its role in food security, public health, biodiversity protection, combating desertification, and mitigating climate change.
During the session, the IOC also emphasised its strategic mission to support the value chain, enhance sustainability, and ensure product quality. Member states reviewed several priority initiatives, including development of a carbon accounting tool for olive groves, promotion of the IOC in Brazil, updates to the statistical dashboard, and improvements to quality standards and analytical methods.
-Photo Map-
(ITALPRESS).
