MED’s participation in the Olive Sustainability Conference 2024 in California
The International Olive Sustainability Conference, organised by the UC Davis Olive Center in partnership with the University of Évora through MED, the IOC (International Olive Council), the University of Jaén, the American Culinary Institute and the IRTA (Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology) of the University of Catalonia, took place at the UC Davis Conference Center in California from 5 to 9 September. The programme also included some activities in Napa and visits to olive farms and research centres in the sector.
At the conference, MED was represented on the Scientific Committee by Maria Raquel Lucas, MED researcher and professor at the University of Évora, who was also a conference speaker on the topic of ‘How and why to develop a sustainable olive oil programme?’. She also presented six scientific posters authored by herself and 11 other MED-UÉvora researchers: Fátima Baptista, Vasco Fitas da Cruz, Luís Leopoldo Silva, Elsa Lamy, Cristina Conceição, Fernando Capela e Silva, Ibrahim Prazeres, João Guerreiro, José Carlos Rico, Diogo Rezende Coelho and Francisca Mendes.
In a farm-to-table approach and with the contribution of recognised international researchers from more than 20 countries, the conference focused on topics of sustainable agriculture and olive and olive oil production, including soil health, biodiversity, the use of by-products, resource management, consumer education, gastronomy, landscape and also consumer food choices that benefit human and planetary health. There were also olive oil tastings, social events and plenty of opportunities to make new contacts for potential international partnerships!
