The Mediterranean olive oil sector is facing a period of significant change. Olive growers and olive oil producers must respond simultaneously to environmental pressures, rising production costs, changing market conditions and increasing expectations regarding quality, authenticity, traceability and sustainability.

This discussion is open to olive growers, olive mills, producer organisations, cooperatives, agronomists, researchers, public authorities and other stakeholders involved in the olive oil value chain.

The aim is to identify the main challenges currently affecting the sector, compare experiences from different countries and territories, and encourage the exchange of practical solutions and good practices.

Possible topics include:

• drought, water scarcity and extreme weather events;

• climate change and irregular olive yields;

• pests and plant diseases;

• declining soil fertility and erosion;

• increasing costs of energy, fertilisers, plant protection products and labour;

• labour shortages;

• difficulties in modernising olive groves and olive mills;

• access to innovation, digital tools and precision technologies;

• management of olive mill by-products and waste;

• maintaining olive oil quality during production and storage;

• authenticity, traceability and certification;

• low or unstable market prices;

• competition from imported or lower-cost products;

• difficulties in communicating quality and added value to consumers;

• protection and commercial valorisation of local olive cultivars;

• access to finance, technical assistance and training.

Questions for discussion

1. What are the main challenges currently affecting olive growers and olive oil producers in your country or region?

2. Which challenges have become more serious in recent years?

3. How do they affect production volumes, product quality, profitability and business continuity?

4. Which solutions or practices are currently being adopted?

5. What are the main limitations of the existing solutions?

6. Which technologies, training activities, support measures or policy actions are most urgently needed?

7. Are there successful experiences or good practices that could be transferred to other Mediterranean territories?

When replying, participants may use the following structure:

Country and region:
Type of organisation or business:
Main challenge:
Effects on production, quality or costs:
Solutions currently adopted:
Main limitations:
Support, innovation or cooperation needed:
Good practices to share:

Both general observations and specific company experiences are welcome. Participants are encouraged to describe not only successful solutions, but also difficulties, unsuccessful attempts and barriers to implementation.

The contributions collected through this discussion will help the OliveOilMedNet community identify common priorities, strengthen cooperation among stakeholders and support the development of a more sustainable, authentic, innovative and competitive Mediterranean olive oil sector.