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The Organisation participated in a training course and the selection of members for a regional olive oil tasting jury
As part of the scientific and technical collaboration between the International Olive Council (IOC) and olive oil producing countries, the IOC’s Olive Growing, Olive Oil Technology, and Environment Unit organised an expert mission in Larache, in the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region, from 8 to 12 July 2024. The objective of this mission was to contribute to the training and selection of qualified candidates for the establishment of a new regional olive oil tasting jury.
This mission was scheduled at the request of the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Water and Forests, in response to a request from the Regional Directorate of Agriculture for the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. This training, part of the IOC’s strategy to support training and capacity building and the national strategy Maroc Génération Green 2020-2030, addresses the need to support the dynamic of improving quality and enhancing the value of production in this region, recognised as one of the five major olive oil-producing regions in the Kingdom. The training in sensory analysis for this regional jury was sponsored by the IOC.
On this occasion, the IOC enlisted two of its experts: Dr. Abderraouf El-Antari, Research Director at INRA (National Institute of Agricultural Research) and Head of the regional olive oil tasting jury for Marrakech-Safi, and Mr. Hassan Mouho, Head of Department at the Marrakech laboratory and Head of the olive oil tasting jury for Morocco Foodex, the national export control and coordination entity.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Asmaa Ben Maïmoun from the Directorate of Production Chain Development (DDFP, Rabat); Lhassane Sikaoui, Head of the IOC’s Olive Growing, Olive Oil Technology, and Environment Unit; Catarina Bairrao Balula, Head of the IOC’s Technical Cooperation and Training Department; representatives from the Regional Directorate of Agriculture for Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (DRA), including Hachouma Lamini, Head of the agricultural sectors division, and Dr. Mouad Chantouf, Head of the Regional Centre for Agricultural Research in Tangier. Following the opening speeches, the two IOC experts presented the objectives and programme for this training session.
The Regional Directorate of Agriculture for Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima had summoned twenty-two engineers and technicians representing all the agricultural structures in the region and provided the premises of the Larache Institute of Specialised Technicians in Agriculture (ITSA), a facility equipped with all necessary infrastructures.
Candidates for the future official olive oil tasting jury of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region followed the various selection phases with interest and demonstrated a high level of commitment, diligence, and patience, qualities highly sought after for conducting selection tests and classifying the intensity of olive oils.
The IOC’s Technical Cooperation and Training Department organises courses at various levels to train olive sector stakeholders on industry advancements. To this end, it conducts various types of training, including international university programmes, national seminars and workshops, organoleptic assessment courses, field visits, and expert missions to the Organisation’s member countries to provide additional technical assistance if necessary. This department is also responsible for collaboration with universities and training centres and managing agreements with research departments.
