Summary of the 2015 Programme, 3rd edition

The agenda of the 2015 National Olive Oil Congress began with a speech by the Executive Director of the International Olive Council, Dr. Jean Louis Barjol, where he highlighted the Portuguese olive sector as an example to be followed worldwide, both regarding its organisation and its dynamics.

The congress had more than a hundred attendees, exclusively professionals and academics, who discussed various topics throughout the day, especially regarding the concern over the olive disease, the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa, which was the subject of a brilliant presentation by Dr Paula Sá Pereira, of INIAV. A new mechanical harvesting system was also presented, which can be adapted both to traditional olive groves and intensive ones, developed by the University of Évora, through the work of Prof. António Dias.
Olive oil tourism and gastronomy were also topics under discussion, where the speeches by Mr. António Roquette, of Herdade do Esporão, Mr. José Santos, of Entidade de Turismo do Alentejo, Mr. José Silva, renowned gastronomy critic, and Mr. João Pereira, a consultant. The agenda was closed at the end of the day by Mr. Luís Mira, General Secretary of CAP.