Since it was set up, the IOC has also taken a concern in carrying out technical cooperation, transferring technology, improving production and raising productivity.
Consequently, from the very beginning, and more particularly since the 1986 Agreement, it has been at the centre of sustained technical cooperation aimed at introducing improvements all along the production chain.
Besides conducting studies to analyse the handicaps facing world olive farming and devising international measures to find solutions to these problems, it has constantly worked to help modern olive farming to emerge and to defend and improve the quality of the olive's products.
Lower production costs, higher productivity and better product quality are fundamental requirements and hence priority objectives for the viability of the sector.
The activities carried out by the IOC since its creation have been effective in transferring scientific know-how, developing research and experimentation, providing training at every level and strengthening institutional collaboration.
The entry into force of the 1986 Agreement opened up new prospects for technical cooperation through the implementation of more ambitious, multi-year programmes and action plans. The new course of action mapped out in the IOC technical cooperation programme emphasises the need to achieve the sustainable development of olive farming by:
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consolidating inter-institutional collaboration;
- consolidating the technological development of the developing countries;
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intensifying training and refresher schemes, particularly through the creation of two Masters in Olive Growing & Olive Oil Technology in association with the Universities of Córdoba and Perugia, directed at young postgraduates from IOC member countries who wish to specialise in this subject area;
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protecting and conserving genetic olive resources; and
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raising productivity in the IOC member countries.
In view of the growing interest taken by its members in environmental protection and the sustainable development of olive growing, the IOC has long incorporated these two elements into its annual action plans besides setting up an Environmental Subcommittee in 1998.
Since then, environmental issues have been one of the central concerns of the Organisation. They feature prominently in the 2005 International Agreement and in a specific activity programme adopted by the IOC at its 93rd session.
However, the scope and effectiveness of these activities depends to a large extent on the funds available - the technical cooperation budget - and on the willingness of members to provide constant financial support for these programmes and action plans.
One complementary way of strengthening technical cooperation is to seek other sources of financing. Consequently, the Council has established close ties with the Common Fund for Commodities and it was one of the first international commodity bodies (ICBs) to submit and finance a development project under the Second Account of the Fund.
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