The Major Gathering of the Olive Sector Begins in İzmir
Tugay: “Türkiye will heal with its own children”
The Olivtech – 12th Olive, Olive Oil, Dairy Products, Wine and Technologies Fair, organized by İZFAŞ and hosted by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, has opened its doors at Fuar İzmir. Emphasizing the importance of this major event spanning from production to table, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay said:
“We will build the agriculture and the country of the future together. These are not empty words. The children of this country will ensure its salvation. Türkiye will heal with its own children.”
The fair opened with more than 100 participants and sector representatives from 5 countries. The opening ceremony, hosted by Mayor Tugay, was attended by political figures, chamber representatives, academics, bureaucrats, and industry professionals.
“We must ensure it gets the value it deserves”
Mayor Tugay stated that some of the world’s finest olive oil is produced on these lands and said:
“We are the heirs of lands where humanity first settled and began agriculture. We must understand this value, process it properly, turn it into labor, products, and brands, and ensure it receives the value it deserves.”
Türkiye is a leading player
Highlighting the scale of the sector, Tugay noted:
- Over 200 million olive trees
- 3.75 million tons of olive production
- Around 300,000 tons of olive oil and 700,000 tons of table olives annually
- 400,000 families depend on olives for their livelihood
Türkiye ranks among the top three globally in table olives and top five in olive oil production and exports, exporting to over 120–130 countries.
İzmir plays a key role, accounting for:
- 14% of Türkiye’s total olive production
- 18% of oil olive production
- Over 20 million trees and 520,000 tons of production
“We can say İzmir is a leader in olive oil production,” Tugay added.
Emphasis on branding
Tugay stressed that Türkiye exports many products without branding:
“We sell for 1 lira, others sell it for 5–10 after branding it.”
Unity and future vision
He also highlighted unity as key to overcoming challenges:
“These are not empty words… The children of this country will ensure its salvation. Türkiye will heal with its own children.”
Sector challenges
CHP Agriculture and Forestry Policies Board Chair Sencer Solakoğlu said:
“We work hard but cannot earn enough. The main reason is lack of support and branding. Without standards, branding is not possible.”
About the fair
- Over 100 participants
- Participants from 19 Turkish cities and countries including Germany, France, Sweden, Canada, and Libya
- Focus areas: olive, olive oil, dairy, wine, and agricultural technologies
The fair aims to bring together all stakeholders from production to consumption, offering opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Rich program
The event includes:
- Panels and talks
- Culinary workshops
- Tasting events
- Product launches
- Exhibitions and experience areas
Topics such as agricultural transformation, food quality, branding, sustainability, and gastronomy will be discussed.