02/06/2025

Conserving Olive Tree Varieties for Sustainable Production

Rome, Italy, 2 June 2025 – The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Treaty), the International Olive Council (IOC), and the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests have signed an agreement placing the extensive olive tree collection in Marrakesh under the auspices of the International Treaty. Morocco hosts the world's second largest collection of olive germplasm at the field genebank in Marrakech, currently containing 580 olive varieties from around the world.

“The preservation of olive genetic resources is essential for the future of our sector,” said Jaime Lillo, Executive Director of the IOC. “We are proud to join forces with Morocco and the FAO to safeguard this vital heritage," he added.

The agreement, which was signed by Kent Nnadozie, International Treaty Secretary and H.E. Ahmed El Bouari, Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, and IOC Executive Director Jaime Lillo recognizes the significance and international status of the olive collection in Morocco, and provides legal arrangements for the distribution of material for research and breeding. It also opens up global partnership possibilities, including for mobilizing resources.

“This agreement marks a vital step forward in our shared commitment to safeguarding the genetic diversity of one of the world’s most culturally and economically significant crops, the olive tree,” said International Treaty Secretary Nnadozie. “By joining forces with the International Olive Council in Morocco, a land deeply rooted in olive heritage, we are strengthening global efforts to ensure resilient food systems, support farmers, and preserve the legacy of plant genetic resources for generations to come,” he added.

The olive tree is the main fruit species in Morocco, generating an average olive production of 1.4 million T/year. It is an important source of employment, fulfils about 25% of the country's need of edible vegetable oils, and contributes to the inflow of about Euros 184 million euros/year in foreign exchange.

“The integration of this collection into the network of the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will allow Morocco to benefit from several advantages, in particular, funding for the maintenance and conservation of the collection, the reception of olive varieties from other olive-growing countries to complete this collection, access to technologies and the establishment of research and development partnerships,” said Tawfik El Achchabi, of the Department of Agriculture of Morocco, who is also the Head of the Moroccan delegation to the IOC.

@PlantTreaty

#ItAllStartsWithTheSeed #olives #FoodSecurity