Morocco adopts the “Córdoba Declaration” and leads the International Olive Council in 2026
On a day symbolically significant for a tree associated with the Mediterranean’s memory and resources, the Kingdom of Morocco officially announced its adoption of the “Córdoba Declaration” on the occasion of the International Olive Tree Day, during a meeting held on November 20, 2025, in the Spanish city of Córdoba. This announcement coincided with Morocco’s election to the presidency of the International Olive Council for 2026, a move that underscores its robust presence in this international forum.
The “Córdoba Declaration” represents, according to a statement issued on the occasion, a shared vision to ensure a sustainable future for the olive sector worldwide. The declaration provides a clear framework for the role of this tree in food security, human health, and biodiversity protection, alongside its contribution to combating desertification and enhancing environmental and social stability.
Morocco was represented by Minister Ahmed El Bouari, who presented an accurate picture of the importance of olives within the national agricultural system. He stated that this crop spans over 1.2 million hectares, accounting for 65% of all fruit trees in the country and providing more than 51 million workdays annually. He added that the sector covers nearly 19% of the national market’s needs for edible oils and contributes around 2.1 billion dirhams to Morocco’s trade balance.
The minister emphasized that this achievement was not by chance but the result of a long process that began with the “Green Morocco” plan and continued with the “Green Generation 2020–2030” strategy, which opened the door to modernizing production methods, improving quality, encouraging innovation, and enhancing technical cooperation to address climate change impacts.
During the general session of the International Olive Council, member countries—representing 94% of global production—endorsed Morocco’s presidency of the council for 2026, a clear recognition of the country’s role in developing this vital sector and promoting its sustainability.
In a parallel context, Minister El Bouari held a bilateral meeting with his Spanish counterpart, Luis Planas, during which they reaffirmed the strength of agricultural relations between the two countries and discussed shared challenges related to climate and the resilience of agricultural systems. They agreed to continue coordination in anticipation of a high-level meeting scheduled for next December, where new memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed to strengthen cooperation between Rabat and Madrid.
