The olive company Deoleo announced the celebration of the I Congress “Growing together: the role of women in the future of the olive sector”this Monday, October 14 at the Orive Palace in Cordoba, “to continue to strengthen its commitment to sustainability, equality and female leadership in the oil sector,” reports the company.
As part of Rural Women’s Day, this congress will bring together featured female voices of the olive sector to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that the sector faces throughout the value chain, from cultivation, harvesting and management in oil mills and cooperatives, to the industrial and commercial process of the oil .
This congress will feature three round tables that will address topics such as generational change, innovation, leadership women in the sector and sustainability. This event aims to be the first in a series of initiatives promoted by Deoleo, aimed at promoting gender equality in the industry, aligned with its values and sustainability goals.
The program structure is inspired by the oil value chain. This way the first table will deal with “The role of women in olive cultivation” and will be hosted by Nuria Yáñez. In this paper, the crucial contribution of women in the early stages of oil production will be discussed, highlighting their role as “population fixers” in rural areas.
In this one, will participate Manuela Aguilera Gonzalez, farmer and owner of an olive grove in Priego de Córdoba; Fernanda Merino, farmer from the Nuestra Señora del Rosario cooperative in Nueva Carteya; María José Campos Arrebola, farmer and secretary of the Nuestra Señora de la Consolación Cooperative in Doña Mencía, and Rafael Pérez de Toro, global quality director of Deoleo.
Moderated by José Antonio Bonache, the second table, “Innovation and leadership of women in the olive sector”, will examine how women are leading innovation in the industry, improving product quality and promoting sustainable practices. Brígida Jiménez Herrera, Doctor of Pharmacy, Specialization in Fats from CSIC, Ifapa de Cabra, will participate; Rosa Gallardo, director of the International Chair of Artificial Intelligence and Agriculture at the University of Córdoba (UCO); Consoli Molero, factory master and Best EVOO Producer Award 2024, and María del Mar García Caparrós, director of the Alcolea de Deoleo factory.
Women in the future of the sector
The third and last table, “From the oil mill to the table: the impact of women on the future of the olive sector”will be moderated by Víctor Roig, general director of Deoleo in Spain, and will reflect on female leadership in the distribution and marketing of oil, as well as their contribution to the internationalization of the product. Blanca Torrent will participate; Rosa Vañó, sales and marketing director of Castillo de Canena and academic at the Royal Academy of Gastronomy; Lucía Matas, Commercial Director of Almazaras de la Subbética, and Mariu Luchetti, Director of Marketing, Innovation and Sustainable Development of Deoleo Global.
