On May 8, 2026, the Regulatory Council of the DOP Aceite de Lucena held the ceremony for the presentation of its IV Awards for quality in Iznájar (Córdoba), one of the municipalities that are part of the DOP territory. These awards recognize both the quality of Extra Virgin Olive Oils produced during the campaign and the individuals and entities that promote and spread the culture of EVOO.
In this edition, the awards were presented to journalist and radio and television host Mr. Carlos Herrera, in recognition of his long-standing work promoting the benefits of “liquid gold” throughout his professional career, and to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of the Andalusian Government, for its efforts in promoting Andalusian EVOO and denominations of origin through its brand Gusto del Sur.
As part of this meeting between producers, entities, and authorities, the PDO shared with attendees the progress made in the GreenFit project through a presentation delivered by Secretary General Patricia Caraballo. During the presentation, the main objectives of the project were highlighted, particularly the use of technological tools to improve the sustainability of crops, with olive groves serving as the pilot project in Spain.
Secretary General Patricia Caraballo, representing GreenFit
Additionally, the current status of the project and the barriers identified within our DOP in implementing the technologies proposed by GreenFit were discussed. The opportunities these technologies offer to improve the efficiency of key resources, particularly water, an increasingly scarce resource during many growing seasons, were also highlighted.
Each of the proposed tools was reviewed, and the Secretary encouraged olive mills, the authorities in attendance, and the Ministry of Agriculture, as the regional body responsible for the agricultural sector, to collaborate in the development of the GreenFit project by sharing their feedback and exploring potential applications. The aim is to develop practical and user-friendly tools that support more sustainable practices in olive groves. The University of Córdoba, represented through the University Center for Olive Oil Development, also proposed potential synergies between GreenFit and other initiatives currently being developed at the university.