Under a special cash grant from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan to promote food safety and quality processes in food value chains (FVCs), the APO Secretariat along with the Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency, Turkiye, organized a workshop on Innovations in the Olive Oil Sector, 28–30 November.

The olive oil industry in Hatay, Karamanmaras, and Osamaniye provinces has seen recent growth as their products are prized in both domestic and foreign markets for their flavor and aroma. Improving and expanding the techniques and technologies for production and distribution are essential to meet the growing demand. Digital innovations such as the cloud, IoT, big data, AI, and blockchain technologies can help develop reliable, safe, sustainable, efficient FVCs.

Two resource persons from Spain and Turkiye conducted the three-day face-to-face workshop. Techniques for modern olive oil production were transferred to 51 local participants, who learned how to improve food safety, quality, and innovation as well as FVC frameworks; enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the olive oil sector through reliable, safe, sustainable FVCs to increase market share; and build awareness in the olive oil sector of consulting and training services available to resolve product quality, branding, and marketing problems.