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Brazil has formally submitted its request to become a member of the International Olive Council (IOC), marking a significant step forward in the relationship between the Organisation and one of the world’s most dynamic olive oil markets.
On Wednesday 9 September, IOC Executive Director Jaime Lillo welcomed the Ambassador of Brazil to Spain, H.E. Mr Luiz Alberto Figuereido Machado, to the Organisation’s headquarters in Madrid. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Brazil’s request for membership and the prospects for strengthening cooperation between the country and the IOC.
Brazil has participated in recent IOC meetings as an observer and has progressively strengthened its engagement with the Organisation. This growing relationship is also reflected in the IOC’s ongoing olive oil promotion campaign in Brazil, which has been extended until the end of 2027 and seeks to promote olive oil consumption, international quality standards and greater knowledge of the product among Brazilian consumers.
Over the past decade, Brazilian olive oil imports have increased by around 60%, from approximately 50,000 to 80,000 tonnes. Brazil is now the largest olive oil import market in Latin America and a country with significant potential for further growth. At the same time, its domestic olive sector is developing rapidly, with Brazilian extra virgin olive oils receiving international recognition, including at the IOC’s Mario Solinas Quality Award for the Southern Hemisphere.
Brazil’s formal request comes at a time when the IOC is expanding its geographical reach and attracting growing interest from countries beyond the traditional Mediterranean producing regions. This evolution reflects a wider transformation of the olive sector: consumption is becoming increasingly global, new producing regions are emerging and a growing number of countries are seeking to participate in international cooperation on quality, standards and sector development.
The incorporation of new members, including major consumer markets, further strengthens the IOC’s role as the global forum bringing together producing and consuming countries around a shared commitment to quality, authenticity, sustainability and international cooperation.
Brazil’s request represents another important step in this process and opens a new chapter in the long-standing cooperation between the country and the International Olive Council.
