The theme “Oil is Innovation” will be the focus of the third edition of the B2B event dedicated to extra virgin olive oil, scheduled for January 28–30, 2027, at the Fiera del Levante in Bari.
Today, innovation is a key driver for making Italian extra virgin olive oil more competitive, transparent, and recognizable. This transformation spans the entire supply chain, from traceability to the ability to make the product’s quality, origin, and characteristics clearer and more recognizable, all the way to the tools used to communicate these values to the market and consumers. It is on this vision that “Oil is Innovation” is based, one of the three main themes of the third edition of EVOLIO Expo, the B2B trade show dedicated to extra virgin olive oil and the olive-growing and olive oil supply chain, organized by Senaf on behalf of Nuova Fiera del Levante, scheduled for January 28–30, 2027, at the Fiera del Levante in Bari.
But what does it really mean to innovate the olive-to-oil supply chain, from field to table?
Vincenzo Laudadio, vice president of ADUSBEF (Association for the Protection of Banking and Financial Services Users) in Puglia, and Luigi Fino of Confconsumatori Puglia discussed the relationship between technology, traceability, and communication.
“The key is certainly information: the ability to enable consumers to be increasingly well-informed, in detail, about a product’s history. That is where, in the transparency of labeling, the strength and genuine awareness of consumers regarding their product purchases are justified,” explains Fino.
Among the tools that can make this transparency a reality, Fino specifically highlights new technologies applied to traceability.
“There are now well-established technical tools, such as blockchain, that make it possible to precisely map the product’s journey from the moment the olives are harvested, including their historical, technical, and production characteristics, through processing and on to sale. It’s a guarantee that allows consumers, in a simple and immediate way, to understand the product’s history and be certain of what they’re buying.”
Traceability will be one of the key topics that EVOLIO Expo 2027 will highlight, bringing together experiences, tools, and solutions to create a more transparent supply chain capable of better showcasing the value of extra virgin olive oil.
In this context, transparency also extends to the label, where mandatory information can be supplemented by additional details chosen by producers to provide a more complete picture of the product’s origin, characteristics, and journey. This approach links traceability and communication and can help make the value of extra virgin olive oil more recognizable to consumers.
And how does innovation change the way we produce and compete in the market?
For Laudadio, the ability to compete also depends on adopting methodologies, standards, and controls that ensure high levels of quality over time and reduce the margin for error.
“Manufacturers are no longer simply committed to offering a product and leaving it at that: they must explain and apply a methodology that, when repeated over time, guarantees quality levels and the achievement of manufacturing excellence, while reducing the margin for error,” explains Laudadio.
This approach involves investments in facilities, processes, and inspections, but it can also serve as a lever to strengthen the presence of Italian extra virgin olive oil on international markets.
“If you apply this production model, you can go anywhere in the world: the cost will ultimately be the same, because a methodology with specific quality standards requires investments, facilities, control processes, and inspections, and this comes at a cost everywhere. This is how our olive oil, not just from Puglia but from all of Italy, can establish itself as one of the true hallmarks of “Made in Italy” excellence around the world.”
The discussion at EVOLIO Expo 2027 will also focus on the relationship between innovation and competitiveness, broadening the conversation to include production models, skills, and the standards necessary to uphold quality and strengthen the presence of Italian extra virgin olive oil in the markets.
Technology and expertise come together in the oil mill, one of the key points in the supply chain. It is here that the evolution of processes and tools can help preserve and enhance the quality that begins in the field. “Our olive mill operators have a rich historical tradition and are already at the forefront in terms of the techniques and technologies used in production. However, there is still a lack of strong regulatory frameworks to protect those who want to follow the rules—frameworks that are effective, above all, in defending them when this does not happen,” emphasizes Fino.
This observation, according to Fino, must also lead to a shift in approach on the part of consumer associations themselves. “In 2026, the world has changed; we associations must also rethink our role: not necessarily as adversaries, but as supporters of those who are committed to and strive to produce according to quality standards,” concludes Fino. “Knowing how to do it, but also knowing how to communicate and raise awareness: this is the dynamic we must all consider together, with a focus on quality and the protection of consumer interests.”
The relationship between the industry’s “know-how” and the ability to communicate its value is one of the central aspects of “Oil is Innovation” the overarching theme through which EVOLIO Expo 2027 will bring together production expertise, technology, and communication.
The “Oil is Innovation” focus will be part of a broader program that, over the course of the three-day event, will also explore the fair’s other two main themes: “Oil is Health,” dedicated to the connection between extra virgin olive oil and well-being, and “Oil is Tourism,” dedicated to the potential of olive oil tourism and the promotion of olive-growing regions.
The third edition will retain the event’s signature format, featuring B2B meetings, talks, conferences, guided tastings, masterclasses, tasting courses, cooking demonstrations, and in-depth discussions with producers, buyers, experts, chefs, doctors, researchers, and institutional representatives. Building on the success of the previous edition—6,720 visitors, 150 exhibiting companies, over 100 events including conferences, talks, tastings, masterclasses, and other activities, and 50 international buyers from 16 strategic countries —EVOLIO Expo returns to Bari with the goal of strengthening its role as a B2B platform for Italian and Mediterranean extra virgin olive oil, fostering dialogue between supply and demand, and helping to position extra virgin olive oil as a symbol of excellence in production, technology, and regional identity.
For further information | MY PR Press Office
Roberto Grattagliano – 338 9291793 – roberto.grattagliano@mypr.it
Marta Rutigliano – 351 0397141 – marta.rutigliano@mypr.it
