Libya Steps onto the Global Olive Oil Stage

Libya has entered a new phase of international competition in olive oil, after winning the presidency of the United Nations-affiliated International Olive Council for one year during the council’s 120th session in Madrid, Spain.

During the session, approval was also granted for the next session to be held in Tripoli, according to Libya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation under the Government of National Unity.

The ministry said Libya won the presidency after member countries voted in its favor.

Libya’s ambassador to Spain, Walid Abdullah, said the International Olive Council had approved laboratories affiliated with the Biotechnology Research Center in Tripoli, a step expected to support Libyan olive oil exports to global markets.

He said this accreditation was the result of combined efforts by the center’s management and staff, the Ministry of Higher Education, and the Libyan embassy in Madrid. He praised all those who contributed to the achievement.

Starting next month, Libyan oil can be exported according to internationally recognized specifications and standards. The center, the Ministry of Agriculture, and relevant authorities will also be able to organize olive oil quality competitions in Libya.

In a country that has been mired in instability since 2011 and remains heavily dependent on oil exports, authorities have at times expressed interest in developing olive cultivation and improving oil quality to match the output of other North African countries, with the aim of exporting it.

This was part of a broader plan that also included developing the tourism and fisheries sectors. However, Libya has struggled to diversify its economy because of deep political divisions.

For several years, olive oil exports were limited to individual initiatives by farmers. Many farmers believe the authorities must introduce new initiatives to advance the sector, especially in quality control and the establishment of bottling facilities.

Decades ago, olive oil was an important source of income in Libya. But after the discovery of oil reserves, agricultural production became a lower priority and olive cultivation suffered significantly.

Olive oil is not only an important food ingredient in Libya; historically, it was also used for medicinal purposes. Production is still often carried out using traditional methods.

In mid-2017, the Government of National Accord announced a temporary halt to the export of three agricultural products — olive oil, honey, and dates — to protect these commodities, without providing detailed explanations for the ban.

In December 2018, Libya signed a cooperation agreement with the International Olive Council to obtain sensory and chemical laboratories and training in the olive oil industry, ensuring that Libyan production could be exported worldwide according to high quality standards.

Libya’s average annual production is estimated at around 150,000 tonnes, placing the country eleventh globally according to available estimates.

Despite scarce rainfall and drought conditions affecting North Africa for years, the harvest has improved somewhat over the past two years. The main olive oil-producing areas include Bani Walid, Msallata, Tarhuna, and Gharyan.

According to a study by agricultural sciences researcher Abu Bakr Al-Shatiwi, olive cultivation is concentrated along the coastal strip, the Jafara Plain, mountainous areas such as Jabal Al Akhdar and the Nafusa Mountains, and some southern and central regions.

He explained that the number of olive trees in southern and central areas remains limited compared with the millions of trees spread across the country.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Libya has eight million olive trees planted on only 2% of the country’s arable land. The city of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, has the largest number of olive trees, followed by the Tripoli region and other areas.

Olive production has been rising year after year, especially in recent years. In 1999, production reached around 275,000 tonnes, which was considered good compared with previous years.

The farmer’s share of retail prices and marketing services rose from 77.87% in 1996 to 94.65% in 1999, indicating high marketing efficiency and lower marketing costs.

Olive cultivation in Libya is considered a traditional crop that has long suited the country’s environmental and climatic conditions, but it now requires greater care.

Local agricultural circles believe the sector should receive major attention as a strategic crop, especially through pest control and better support for farmers.

Al-Shatiwi believes Libya should expand olive cultivation because the region has a comparative advantage in production.

He stressed the need for economic policies that support the expansion of olive cultivation and olive oil production in Libya by setting price margins that ensure suitable income for farmers and orchard owners. This would increase production and reduce olive oil imports.

Observers note that efforts are being made on several fronts to plant more trees across the country.

In 2023, business leaders from Zliten launched an initiative to plant one million olive trees to cover domestic market needs and export to foreign markets.

Libya ranks eleventh globally in olive production, with around 150,000 tonnes of olives annually, but only 20% of the crop is converted into oil.

While Spain leads global olive oil production, followed by Italy and Turkey, Tunisia is the largest producer in the Middle East and North Africa, followed by Morocco, Syria, Algeria, and Egypt.