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The Executive Director of the International Olive Council (IOC), Jaime Lillo, welcomed Mr Cleber Oliveira Soares, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil, to the Organisation’s headquarters in Madrid on Thursday, 11 September 2025.
Mr Soares was accompanied by José Carlos Polidoro, Adviser at the Ministry; Fernando Onofre, Head of the Brazilian Trade Office in Spain; and Giovanni Coelho from Brazil’s Commercial and Tourism Office. Abderraouf Laajimi, IOC Deputy Executive Director for operational affairs; María Juárez, Head of the Economic Affairs and Promotion Unit; and Andoni Olano, Head of External Relations, were also present on the IOC’s side.
The visit served as an opportunity to introduce the IOC’s mission and activities to the high-level delegation and to present the Organisation’s role in promoting cooperation among olive-producing and -consuming countries. Discussions centred on Brazil’s growing importance as a key importer of olive oil and the strategic potential for deepening its engagement with the international olive sector. The delegation was also briefed on the promotional campaign the IOC launched in Brazil in 2024 and the planned activities for the ongoing year. This initiative is designed to raise awareness of the nutritional and sensory benefits of olive oil among Brazilian consumers and promote informed consumption based on the IOC’s quality standards.
During the meeting, the possibility of Brazil joining the International Olive Council as a full Member was explored. The Executive Director outlined the various advantages of IOC membership, including technical support, participation in international standard-setting, and access to a global network of expertise in the olive sector.
To reinforce the spirit of collaboration, Lillo presented an official invitation addressed to Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, inviting him to take part in the World Olive Day celebrations on 20 November 2025 in Córdoba, Spain, a special day that will be marked by the signing of a ministerial declaration manifesting the signing countries’ support and compromise with the olive tree and its products.
This visit marks a promising step forward in the dialogue between the IOC and Brazil and reaffirms the Council’s commitment to expanding cooperation with key actors in the global olive oil market.
