FAO, Ministry of Agriculture, and Italy organize roundtable on the future of Syria’s olive sector

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Syrian Arab Republic, with the distinguished participation of the Government of Italy, represented by the Italian Ambassador in Syria, H.E Stefano Ravagnan, organized a roundtable today to present the findings of a comprehensive value chain study of the olive sector and to discuss the way forward for its development.

Under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Amjad Badr, with the attendance of the Directors of Agriculture, Italian institutions, Research Centers, UN, INGOs, NGOs and the private sector, the roundtable highlighted the outcomes of a comprehensive study carried out under FAO’s global initiative ‘One Country One Priority Product’, in which Syria selected olives as its priority product, as olives and olive oil hold deep cultural, economic, and agricultural importance, with nearly 700 000 hectares under cultivation, supporting about 300 000 farming families.

However, in spite of annual production of nearly one million tons of olives, the sector has faced challenges due to about fourteen years of conflict, outdated practices, limited access to export markets and climate shocks. The study, completed by FAO, has addressed these challenges in detail, and mapped the olive value chain, identified gaps, and proposed a national upgrading strategy aimed at boosting production, quality, and competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.

“This study marks a turning point for Syria’s olive sector,” states Toni Ettel, FAO’s Acting Representative in the Syrian Arab Republic: “Today’s roundtable introduces modern practices, quality control mechanisms and climate-smart approaches that can help farmers, processors and traders position Syrian olive oil as a competitive product in international markets,” adds Toni.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Amjad Badr, stressed the Government’s commitment to improve olive production, by saying: “The olive tree is a symbol of resilience for Syria. By working hand in hand with FAO and our partners, we aim to modernize this vital sector, support our farming families, and open new opportunities for trade and rural development,”.

His Excellency Stefano Ravagnan, Ambassador of Italy to Syria, reaffirmed Italy’s support, acknowledging the kind participation of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari: “We are proud to support Syria in revitalizing its olive sector. This roundtable is an opportunity for involved stakeholders to promote sustainability, strengthen livelihoods, and build stronger bridges between Syrian and international markets,”.

The group discussions during the roundtable came up with recommendations on priority actions to be addressed for the implementation of the Olive Value Chain Upgrading Strategy to improve farming and processing practices, enhance quality standards and certification systems, and strengthen market linkages. These measures will help increase Syria’s export potential, improve resilience to climate change, and reinforce the role of olive cultivation as a cornerstone of rural livelihoods.