The impact of Olive Oil on the health of Americans

El Olive Oil World Congress (OOWC) continues to strengthen its position as the leading global forum for the olive oil sector, supported by a solid group of institutions and companies committed to the future of the industry. Among the institutional sponsors are the International Olive Council (COI), the CIHEAM of Zaragoza, the Mediterranean Diet Foundation, the Castilla-La Mancha Government with its ‘Campo y Alma’ brand, the ‘SOM Gastronomía’ initiative from the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food through Alimentos de España, and the Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (Imidra). In the private sector, companies like AgroBank (Platinum Sponsor) and GEA (Gold Sponsor) provide support to the congress, underscoring the sector's commitment to expanding olive oil in key markets such as the United States.

This support was essential for the success of the recent event “Drops of Health: Olive Oil in the United States”, held in Washington D.C. As part of the actions planned under the program “On the Way to OOWC 2026”, this event was organized in collaboration with the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA), the Mediterranean Diet Foundation, Food Tank, and the CIHEAM of Zaragoza. Bringing together experts, policymakers, and sector leaders, the event aimed to further boost the presence and consumption of olive oil in the United States.

The country, which is the second largest consumer of olive oil in the world, with a total of 368,000 tons consumed in 2024 (32% more than in 2013), showed great interest in the initiative. The event discussed the importance of this market and how increased consumption of olive oil could benefit public health. According to recent studies, a 20% increase in adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in the U.S. could result in a savings of 20 billion dollars annually in the country’s healthcare system.

Throughout the event, health and nutrition experts, as well as representatives from the olive oil sector, analyzed the benefits of olive oil and its positive impact on daily nutrition. The need to strengthen local production to ensure broader access to this product and promote its consumption was emphasized. Additionally, a roundtable was held, featuring prominent figures from the U.S. olive oil industry, who discussed strategies to improve the production and distribution of olive oil in the country.

With this event, the OOWC continues to reaffirm its leadership in promoting the benefits of olive oil globally, serving as a key pillar for the growth and stability of the olive oil sector, especially in key markets such as the United States.