Once again, Jaén has become the world capital of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) with the celebration of the 19th International Olive Oil and Related Industries Fair (Expoliva).
Expoliva was founded in 1983 to serve as a benchmark for companies and professionals dedicated to the production and marketing of olive oil and related industries. The fair showcases products, machinery, and technology applied to the olive oil sector. Its program includes conferences, seminars, and tastings, all focused on Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Over the years, Expoliva has become more than just a trade fair, attracting both the general public and professionals, including technicians and scientists presenting the latest innovations in the olive industry worldwide. The event is held biennially at the provincial fair and congress center of Jaén every May.
During these days, Expoliva becomes the global hub for the olive oil sector, covering machinery, cooperatives, industrial mills, fertilizers, bottling, and distribution, combining traditional companies with newcomers in technology, innovation, and smart systems.
According to the organizers, the 2019 edition was the best in its history, with 382 exhibitors representing 1,021 companies and 4,847 brands. The event drew 60,000 visitors—almost 7,000 more than in 2017. International participation increased from 37 to 44 companies from 13 countries, while expert visits rose from 3,778 to 4,025 from over 70 countries, including the 64 olive oil producing nations, such as Iran, Montenegro, Palestine, Uruguay, Japan, Pakistan, and China. Media coverage included 110 outlets and 370 national and international journalists. More than 300 business meetings between buyers and sellers of oil, machinery, and technology were scheduled, and nearly 400 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs were created during the fair.
19th Scientific-Technical Symposium and Expoliva Virgen Extra
Expoliva 2019 also hosted the 19th Scientific-Technical Symposium on Olive Oil, with 1,407 experts presenting 188 papers across topics such as food, health, olive cultivation, the environment, olive oil industry, technology and quality, economic and social aspects, olive oil culture, and innovation. The "Expoliva Virgen Extra" exhibition featured 192 of the world’s best EVOOs, providing professionals with a unique opportunity to taste and evaluate top-quality oils from the latest harvest.
New Trends in the EVOO Market
Discussions during Expoliva highlighted changing consumer behavior, product image, and increased consumer knowledge. Experts emphasized improving products from origin to industry and differentiating their branding to build loyalty among increasingly informed and demanding consumers. Influencers, gastronomes, dietitians, bloggers, and online EVOO stores play a key role in shaping consumer preferences.
Towards Sustainable and Profitable Olive Cultivation
Global statistics reveal that traditional olive groves now represent less than 72% of total cultivated olive areas. Over the last six years, one million hectares of new olive groves have been planted worldwide, accounting for 28% of total olive-growing areas. Hedge-style olive cultivation now covers 500,000 hectares globally, highlighting the need for competitive improvements in traditional olive farming. Currently, olive oil is produced in 64 countries across five continents on a total of 11.5 million hectares.
At our store, we closely follow the developments from Expoliva to offer our customers the finest Extra Virgin Olive Oils from the Jaén province, providing the best advice and service to those who appreciate this unique product.
