By Daniel Williams
Olive Oil Times Contributor | Reporting from Barcelona

This November 24th the curtain will rise for Cortijo Urbano, a diverse group of interactive events taking place in Jaén, Spain which will offer investigations into the role of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet. For two days the production will feature an interdisciplinary program of events which will discuss the relationships between culture, food, health and society throughout the Mediterranean.

Cortijo Urbano is sponsored by CITOLIVA, a research and development center from Jaén, Spain which specializes in innovative methodologies and
technological systems related to the olive oil sector. They have gathered leaders and experts from the health profession, the olive oil industry, and various realms of academia to highlight the Mediterranean lifestyle, validate the authenticity of claims surrounding its benefits, and speak of its economic and social potential.

After an introduction from the president of CITOLIVA, Dr. Jose Juan Gaforio, the first day of the festival will consist of a number of talks from leading experts like Dr. Manuel Martínez Peinado, project director for the European Institute for the Mediterranean Diet. Dr. Peinado will speak of olive oil’s cultural heritage and socio-cultural impacts before Dr. Gaforio will speak once more, this time discussing whether it is still possible to follow the traditional Mediterranean diet within the context of contemporary society.

The first day of the program will conclude with presentations by representatives from seven leading businesses in the Spanish olive oil sector. Each will discuss their current relationships with the modern consumer and explain the commercial keys to their long term success.

The final day of the program will consist of events hosted by the Responsible Healthy Cooks, experts in innovative teaching methods. Their programs will be geared specifically towards the youth in attendance. The children will have the chance to become olive farmers for a day and later visit the supermarket to purchase ingredients for a Mediterranean meal which they will later prepare and eat with their parents. The purpose of the program is to introduce children to the long term health benefits of consuming olive oil within the Mediterranean diet.

This will be followed by several round table discussions including a discussion of olive oil’s role in modern hospital food. In addition to being healthy and nutritious, experts agree that hospital food should be an integral part of the complete rehabilitation of the patient. Each speaker will expound on how the consumption of olive oil within the Mediterranean diet can lead to faster, more complete recoveries in patients.

The program also features a number of other interactive workshops, tastings, business meetings, debates and discussions. For a complete listing of the program of events, visit the website for Cortijo Urbano.