Festival to Showcase Herzegovina’s Growing Olive Oil Sector

The first HerzOliveFest – Golden Drops of Herzegovina will be held August 21 and 22 in Mostar, bringing together producers, experts and olive oil enthusiasts to celebrate the rapid development of olive growing in Herzegovina.

Our olive growers have earned an event like this.– Božo Mustapić, president of the Herzegovina Association of Olive Growers and Oil Producers

“Our olive growers have earned an event like this,” Božo Mustapić, president of the Herzegovina Association of Olive Growers and Oil Producers and a prominent agronomist, told Olive Oil Times.

Marko Ivanković, director of the Federal Agro-Mediterranean Institute and widely regarded as one of the driving forces behind the revival of olive cultivation in the region, said Herzegovina has expanded from about 80 hectares of olive groves to approximately 643 hectares.

Ivanković said the growth demonstrates that olive cultivation is no longer developing sporadically, but has become a sector with significant long-term potential.

Achievements and Strategic Goals

“It is a path from which, it seems, there is no turning back,” Ivanković said, adding that the Federal Agro-Mediterranean Institute in Mostar is actively monitoring and supporting the sector’s development.

Looking ahead, Ivanković said a strategic objective should be to expand the region’s olive groves to 1,000 hectares by 2030. Given the current pace of planting, he believes the target is achievable and could even be reached ahead of schedule.

The region has already reached several milestones. Extra Virgin Olive Oil of Herzegovina has received Protected Designation of Origin status, the “Golden Drops of Herzegovina” trademark has been established and Bosnia and Herzegovina has joined the International Olive Council.

Ivanković also highlighted the recent success of Herzegovinian producers at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition in New York. Producers from Bosnia and Herzegovina earned awards for 16 of 19 entries, including 15 Gold Awards and one Silver Award.

He said the results demonstrated that extra virgin olive oil from Herzegovina has achieved quality recognized at the international level.

Success in New York Raises Profile

“It is a huge step forward,” Ivanković said. “A few years ago, we had only one producer competing in New York. Today, we are talking about results that place us among the highly successful.”

Organizers said the international recognition has helped generate interest in the inaugural HerzOliveFest, which is dedicated to olive cultivation, olive oil production, gastronomy and local products.

Over two days at the Romanca restaurant in Mostar, visitors will be able to taste award-winning local and visiting olive oils, cheeses, prosciutto, wines and other regional products.

The program also includes guided tastings, expert panels, equipment presentations and culinary demonstrations by chef Slavko Mustapić.

The festival begins Friday with the opening of the exhibition, an official ceremony and awards recognizing individuals who have contributed to the sector. The evening will conclude with dinner and a concert by the vocal group Klapa Cambi.

Saturday’s program includes expert presentations, two international panels and an evening performance by the tamburica ensemble Ritam.

Golden Drops as a Mark of Excellence

The festival will host its first panel devoted to the strategic development of olive growing and olive oil production in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Experts, producers and representatives of agricultural ministries from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its cantons will discuss the future of the sector, with particular attention to olive oil tourism and the role of the Trebinje Agrarian Fund.

Against a backdrop of climate change, rising production costs and labor shortages for harvesting and pruning, panelists will consider the use of technologies such as crop-protection drones and weather stations installed in olive groves.

Another central question will be how producers can maintain high quality while increasing olive oil consumption in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the organizers said currently stands at 0.60 liters per capita.

The discussion will also examine the role of the “Golden Drops of Herzegovina” brand and certification mark as a guarantee of excellence.

Participants will consider how different levels of government, from municipalities and cantons to entity and state authorities, can contribute to reaching the 1,000-hectare target by 2030. They will also discuss sustainable subsidy models and the development of agricultural advisory services.

The panel will be moderated by Ivan Ostojić. Participants include Pejo Janjić of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry; Mario Jurica of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton; Ognjen Milinković of the Trebinje Agrarian Fund; Sister Dajana Dujmović of the School Sisters of St. Francis monastery in Bijelo Polje and director of Paxa Dola d.o.o. Potoci; and Mario Primorac of the Filsonići family farm in Ljubuški.

‘Adriatic Jewels’ Proposed as Cross-Border Brand

A second international panel, “Eastern Adriatic – A Smart and Sustainable Capital of Premium Olive Growing,” will bring together specialists from across the region.

Moderated by Olive Oil Times journalist Nedjeljko Jusup, the panel will include Rok Babič and Karlo Kopjar of the Institute for Oliveculture at Slovenia’s Science and Research Centre Koper; Lordan Ljubenkov, director of the Cooperative Association of Dalmatia in Croatia; Nebojša Jerković of the K-7 Association in Komarna, Croatia; Ivanković; Ivan Ilić, president of the Boka Olive Growers Association in Montenegro; and Ćazim Alković, president of the Bar Olive Growers Association and representative of Montenegrin olive growers to the International Olive Council.

Participants will discuss how producers can preserve premium quality while increasing production and consumption despite changing climatic conditions.

Particular attention will be given to developing agricultural tourism through a proposed “Trans-Adriatic Route” connecting olive-growing destinations from Ulcinj in southern Montenegro to northern Istria in Slovenia.

The panel will also consider creating a common umbrella brand for premium olive oils from the eastern Adriatic, designed to make the region more recognizable to long-haul international travelers and consumers.

The proposed brand, “Adriatic Jewels,” would retain the country of origin on every bottle while presenting the region’s oils under a shared identity.

“The goal is not to erase national identity, but to create a strong and recognizable framework that opens the doors of major global markets to our small countries,” said Jusup.