Olive groves are not just fields to be cultivated, they are the living memory of a territory, the symbol of a thousand-year-old identity and a landscape to be preserved. They are an important resource for promoting the Italian olive-growing sector, and this is why the second edition of EVOLIO Expo, to be held from 29 to 31 January 2026 at the Fiera del Levante in Bari, has dedicated a large focus among its three macro-themes precisely to the inseparable link between oil and territory.
During the three days of EVOLIO Expo, organised by Senaf on behalf of Nuova Fiera del Levante and with the support of the Apulia Region’s Department of Agriculture, Rural and Environmental Development, Pugliapromozione and the National Association of Oil Cities, the theme of Oil, Environment, Landscape and Identity will be the focus of conferences and talks involving agronomists, landscape architects, institutional representatives and producers, with the aim of preserving olive-growing landscapes and relaunching the sector even in the country’s most fragile areas.
Why is the topic so strategic for the supply chain?
“The territory can become a strategic asset of the country system if it is properly recognised and promoted. So much so that in the current CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) there are about 790 million euro for olive growers in areas with a strong endowment of landscape, environmental, cultural, historical and food and wine resources, with the aim, among others, to support rural development,” says Professor Mauro Agnoletti, UNESCO Chair “Agricultural Heritage Landscapes”, University Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of Florence (IUSSAF) and President of the National Association of Rural Landscapes of Historical Interest – PRIS E. T.S. Association.
“The Italian agricultural landscape is a unique heritage, shaped over the centuries by historical, cultural and geographical factors, with strong identity characteristics linked to its Mediterranean conformation, biodiversity and integration between agriculture and territory. The future of Italian olive growing depends on the ability to build different development models for different territories: about 75% of our territory, mainly hills and mountains, cannot be intensified. In these areas, however, there is a strong endowment of resources that can be exploited in an integrated manner, creating a local economic system based on tourism, agriculture, trade and services. A system, the one linked to the territories, that can therefore overcome the criticalities that threaten the sector, such as the abandonment of agricultural areas, the creation of high-density olive groves, which has only worked in about 25% of our territory, and the standardisation of cultivation models.”
How can EVOLIO Expo support the supply chain and promote the link with the territories?
By offering a concrete opportunity for professionals to learn more about the value of the olive-growing landscape and to create connections between those who produce, those who protect and those who promote the territory. The event therefore aims to foster a dialogue between producers, institutions, buyers and local communities, with the objective of enhancing those realities that stand out for quality, identity and connection with the landscape.
In addition to the focus on landscape and identity, EVOLIO Expo 2026 will also explore two other macro-themes: the link between Oil and Health, with in-depth studies on the nutraceutical properties of EVO Oil, and the potential of Oleotourism as an engine for territorial development. Moreover, EVOLIO Expo also confirms its strong international vocation: the event will host delegations of buyers from European and non-European countries, thanks to a structured programme of B2B meetings and business matching activities. The aim is to strengthen the competitive positioning of Italian extra virgin olive oil on foreign markets, creating valuable relationships between exhibiting companies and international operators.
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Roberto Grattagliano – 338 9291793 – roberto.grattagliano@mypr.it
Marta Rutigliano – 351 0397141 – marta.rutigliano@mypr.it