The town of Baeza is hosting a new edition of Futuroliva, the Olive Grove Fair of the La Loma region, organized by Pópulo Servicios Turísticos y Culturales. This biennial event, running until next Saturday, May 9, brings together 160 exhibiting companies in a 23,000 square meter venue, establishing itself as a crucial meeting point for the olive oil sector in Andalusia and Spain.

During the official opening, a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture highlighted the strategic value of olive oil for Spain, both for its economic impact and international recognition. It was stressed that artificial intelligence and expansion into new markets are fundamental for the sector's future leadership. It was noted that the Spanish agri-food sector exceeded 78,000 million euros in exports in 2025, with a trade surplus of over 18,000 million. Andalusia contributes more than 16,000 million in agri-food exports, of which olive oil, especially extra virgin, surpasses 3,400 million euros.

In the field of innovation, the development of artificial intelligence systems in Spanish public universities, with government support, capable of classifying oils and predicting their quality with over 90% accuracy, was highlighted. Despite these advances, it was warned that only 11.3% of Spanish agri-food companies currently use artificial intelligence, indicating significant room for improvement in a context where markets like China, India, and other emerging countries increasingly link product value to traceability and digital certification.

On the commercial front, European Union agreements were defended as strategic tools for the sector, emphasizing the pact with Mercosur, which opens a market of over 700 million consumers, and progress in negotiations with countries such as India, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, and Chile. The fair also offers a program of technical conferences, specialized forums, and a gastronomic space dedicated to olive oil, featuring chefs and focusing on olive mills and olive oil tourism.