News Briefs
Mar. 17, 2026
New Research Suggests Olives May Reveal Oil Quality Before Milling
A new study suggests that analyzing the metabolic profile of olives before extraction could help predict some of the chemical and sensory characteristics of the oil they will produce.
Mar. 16, 2026
E.U. Adopts 2040 Climate Target
European Union member states have approved a 2040 climate target requiring emissions to fall 90 percent from 1990 levels, with most of the cuts expected to come from within the bloc.
Mar. 16, 2026
Trade Group Tightens Standards for Certified Seal Program
The North American Olive Oil Association has introduced stricter standards for its Certified Seal program, including tighter chemical limits, shorter shelf-life parameters and expanded supply chain oversight.
Mar. 5, 2026
As Pakistan Olive Industry Matures, Producers See China as The Next Growth Engine
Pakistan’s fast-growing olive sector is seeking deeper collaboration with China on processing technology, certification and market access as production and quality programs expand.
Mar. 5, 2026
Food Safety Authority Seeks Public Input as EU Reassesses Xylella Fastidiosa Control Options
A sweeping assessment of studies across the EU concludes there is no field-ready cure for Xylella fastidiosa, as regulators consider updates to surveillance and containment.
Mar. 3, 2026
EU-India Trade Pact Could Lower Barriers for Greek Olive Oil Exports
A new EU-India free trade agreement could phase out India’s steep olive oil import duties over five years, potentially narrowing the price gap for consumers.
Feb. 23, 2026 News Briefs
Orthodox Monastery Earns Three Gold Awards at NYIOOC for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Feb. 10, 2026 News Briefs
Weeks of Rain and Flooding Slow Spain’s Olive Harvest, Threatening Output Targets
Feb. 6, 2026 News Briefs
Morocco’s Olive Harvest Races Ahead as Rain, Cold and Labor Shortages Tighten the Window
Feb. 6, 2026 News Briefs
European Table Olive Groups Push Back on EU-Mercosur Tariff Terms
Feb. 4, 2026 News Briefs
Jordan Expands Tunisian Olive Oil Imports as Drought Squeezes Local Supply
Feb. 2, 2026
Global Olive Oil Quality Takes Center Stage as 2026 NYIOOC Results Begin
With results from the 2026 NYIOOC starting to roll out earlier than usual, the global olive oil sector is watching closely as award-winning producers gain valuable recognition at a critical point in the commercial season.
Jan. 27, 2026
Olive Oil Times Sommelier Certificate Program Returns to London in March
The Olive Oil Times Education Lab will host its five-day Sommelier Certificate Program in London from March 9 to 13, offering immersive instruction in olive oil sensory analysis, production, health, culinary applications and quality assessment.
Jan. 22, 2026
EU Lawmakers Delay Mercosur Trade Deal After Narrow Vote
Less than a week after the EU–Mercosur trade deal was signed, the European Parliament voted to delay its approval pending a legal review.
Jan. 22, 2026
Study Finds Extra Virgin Olive Oil Improves Vascular Function in Hyperlipidemia Patients
A randomized controlled trial in Greece found that extra virgin olive oil consumption improved vascular function and key cardiovascular markers in patients with hyperlipidemia.
Jan. 20, 2026
NYIOOC 2026 Results to Begin Earlier than Previous Years
Competition organizers say the first award winners will be revealed in coming weeks, giving producers more time to leverage recognition during the commercial season
Jan. 20, 2026
EU Audit Finds Gaps in Olive Oil Controls Despite Strong Regulatory Framework
A new audit by the European Court of Auditors finds that while E.U. olive oil rules are robust, uneven enforcement continues to undermine quality and traceability.
Jan. 20, 2026
Spain Announces Expanded Anti-Fraud Controls for Olive Oil Sector
Spain has announced a new set of official controls and anti-fraud measures covering the entire olive oil and pomace supply chain, with implementation set to begin in 2026.
Dec. 18, 2025
France Casts Doubt on E.U.-Mercosur Trade Deal as Farmers Push Back
France has called the E.U.-Mercosur trade agreement “incomplete,” raising new doubts about the long-negotiated deal as farmers across Europe warn of unfair competition from South America.
Dec. 15, 2025
Italy’s National Cuisine Inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Italy has become the first country to have its entire national cuisine recognized by UNESCO, highlighting Italian cooking as a living heritage rooted in sustainability, diversity and shared traditions.
Dec. 15, 2025
Researchers Detect Microplastics in Italian Olive Oils Using New Imaging Technique
A new study published in Food Chemistry found microplastics in Italian extra virgin olive oils, highlighting differences linked to supply chain length and production practices.
Dec. 8, 2025
Extreme Weather Ravages Olive Groves Across Greece, Undermining 2025 Output
Hailstorms of unusual intensity have devastated olive farms across Greece, leaving producers facing severe losses in a year already marked by climate and pest pressures.
Dec. 8, 2025
Italy Warns of Rising Fraud and Violence Amid High Olive Oil Prices
Italian authorities seized more than 14,000 liters of untraced extra virgin olive oil in Puglia and reported armed thefts of additional shipments, underscoring a spike in fraud and criminal activity fueled by high market prices.
Dec. 4, 2025
Study Links €1.1 B in Losses to Tasting-Panel Variability in Spain
Researchers say tasting-panel variability continues to undermine Spain’s olive oil sector, with misclassifications costing growers more than €1.1 billion in ten years.
Dec. 4, 2025
Traditional Growers Unite to Defend Spain’s Historic Olive Groves
Three dozen cooperatives representing 15,000 farmers have launched the Traditional Olive Grove Association, aiming to defend Spain’s historic olive-growing landscapes amid rising pressure from industrial groves.
Dec. 1, 2025
COP30 Ends Without Fossil Fuel Phase-Out as Global Divide Widens
COP30 concluded in Brazil’s Amazon without a commitment to phase out fossil fuels, exposing a widening global divide as more than 80 nations pushed for a roadmap that oil-producing states firmly rejected.