As the world’s largest producer of olive oil, Spain has welcomed a new organization to the olive oil sector. The Professional Organization of Olive Pomace Oil (Organización Interprofesional del Aceite de Orujo de Oliva), officially recognized by Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Nutrition and Environment last week now joins other industry groups including the Professional Organization of Table Olives and the Professional Organization of Spanish Olive Oil.
Given that the country is, of course, also the world’s leader in olive pomace oil production, the new group’s objectives are focused around the oil’s research and promotion. In doing so, they hope to foster the oil’s use in the food and food service sectors, which often use oils of lesser quality.
“We won’t work against anyone,” the organization explained in a release, “but rather work in favor of olive pomace oil and seek out relevant niche markets.” In many cases, this includes opportunities to replace the use of other vegetable fats, which, says the organization, largely come from imports.
Their efforts to maximize olive pomace oil’s use could also permit other benefits beyond just food consumption such as its use in cosmetics and animal food products, as well as advantages when it comes to the environment. Olive pomace can be a valuable source of biomass energy.
The group is made up of five organizations that come from different areas of the olive pomace oil supply chain. On the production side, the members include the National Association of Olive Pomace Oil Businesses (ANEO), Agrifood Cooperatives, and the Spanish Federation of Olive Oil Industrialists and Manufacturers (INFAOLIVA).
The industrial and manufacturing side is made up of Spain’s National Association of Industrial Packagers and Edible Oil Refiners (ANIERAC), the Spanish Association of Olive Oil Industry and Trade Exports (ASOLIVA), and also the aforementioned ANEO.
Though now officially recognized, the group must still wait until May or June before receiving economic support to work toward its objectives.
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