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The 1st edition of the IOC’S Mario Solinas Quality Award competition is accepting submissions from southern hemisphere countries
- The IOC’s prestigious Mario Solinas Quality Award will be travelling to Uruguay in 2024 as part of a new special edition dedicated solely to extra virgin olive oils from the southern hemisphere.
The International Olive Council’s (IOC) Mario Solinas Quality Award competition for the quality of extra virgin olive oils was launched during the 2000-2001 crop year to honor and commemorate the memory of Italian professor Mario Solinas, a great promoter of the sensory analysis of virgin olive oil. The competition’s main aim is to reward extra virgin olive oils with the best sensory attributes in each of the categories set out in the competition rules. As well as recognizing the meticulous work and dedication of producers, this competition is a benchmark in the olive sector and encourages producers to reach new heights in terms of quality.
Given the difference between the olive harvesting periods in the southern and northern hemispheres, Uruguay proposed launching a specific edition of the Mario Solinas Quality Award adapted to the harvesting period of southern hemisphere countries. This request was studied by IOC experts in the organoleptic assessment of olive oils and approved by the Organization’s Council of Members at its 118th session in November 2023. The 2024 edition will therefore take place in Uruguay. The principle of alternating between Uruguay and Argentina has been suggested for the organization of future editions of the Mario Solinas Quality Award in the southern hemisphere.
This decision underlines the IOC’s commitment to promoting and strengthening the excellence and quality of olive oils worldwide. It also reflects the desire to encourage international cooperation, share best practices and recognize producers of exceptional extra virgin olive oils around the world.
This initiative will also strengthen the ties between the IOC and southern hemisphere countries, with the hope that it will encourage new countries in this region to join this intergovernmental organization. It opens the door to a host of exceptional extra virgin olive oils from the olive-growing regions of the southern hemisphere.
The Mario Solinas Quality Award rules for the southern hemisphere are available here in English, French, and Spanish.
The samples for the 2024 crop year and the required documents must be sent before 15 August 2024 to the following address: Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay – Sede Central – Av. Italia 6201, 11500 Montevideo, Uruguay.
With the samples, all participants of this edition are also requested to send this form required by the General Directorate of Customs of Uruguay to participate in the “IOC Mario Solinas Quality Award – Southern Hemisphere 2024” (see instructions).
