IOC at SOL Expo 2026

The Deputy Executive Director of the International Olive Council (IOC), Abderraouf Laajimi, participated in the second edition of SOL Expo, held at Veronafiere in Verona from 1 to 3 March 2026.

High-level institutional presence

On the first day, Mr Laajimi attended the official inauguration ceremony of the exhibition in the presence of Italian authorities, including the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Patrizio La Pietra. He subsequently took part in the official tour of the exhibition alongside the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida (pictured to the left), engaging with exhibitors and representatives of the sector.

In his official address, he emphasised the strategic importance of international cooperation, quality standards and trade promotion in a context marked by increasing climatic and economic challenges.

The IOC Deputy Executive Director also participated in a roundtable discussion on international trade, where he addressed current global market dynamics, the role of harmonised standards and the need to preserve a multilateral framework that supports transparency and stability in trade. His intervention attracted significant interest from the audience.

Sustainability and environmental transition at the heart of discussions

The following day, Mr Laajimi took part in another roundtable discussion focused on sustainability challenges in the olive sector. He presented the IOC’s work on climate change adaptation, with particular reference to the Organisation’s carbon balance calculation project, which aims to develop a robust scientific methodology to measure and enhance the role of olive groves in CO₂ sequestration.

The participation of a senior IOC official at SOL Expo 2026 provided an opportunity to reaffirm the Organisation’s commitment to an innovative and sustainable olive sector, fully integrated into international dynamics, while strengthening dialogue with national authorities and professional stakeholders.