PROJECT
INFORMATION
Geography
Focus Areas
Contact
Lisa Paglietti
Keywords
Summary
Under the ACES initiative, the EBRD and FAO will be working with olive oil sector stakeholders in the Mediterranean region to develop a comprehensive overview of environmental challenges along the entire value chain, from production to distribution. They will also examine available management technologies and management approaches available, with a focus on their technical and economic performance, as well as the barriers to their adoption in the SEMED context.
In addition, the project aims to promote the implementation of climate-efficient practices and unlock green investment opportunities for private sector companies, with an emphasis on Türkiye.
Context
The olive oil sector, a cornerstone of Mediterranean agriculture and trade, is facing growing climate, environmental and economic pressures that affect productivity, quality, and competitiveness along the entire value chain. At farm level, rising temperatures, increased climate variability and more frequent droughts exacerbate water stress, while soil degradation and erosion undermine long-term resilience. At the processing stage, olive mills generate significant volumes of by-products, particularly olive mill wastewater and pomace, posing management challenges where valorization options are limited. Downstream, packaging choices and logistics systems increasingly influence environmental performance, especially in export-oriented markets.
Türkiye has experienced significant growth in olive oil production, which has increased environmental and sustainability pressures on the sector. The focus of the work will be in Türkiye, where a more in-depth analysis will be carried out, including in-country activities. EBRD and FAO will work with Turkish stakeholders to identify scalable, cost-effective innovations that reduce pollution, create new revenue streams and enhance the sector’s long-term resilience
Activities
Global level
- Generate and consolidate evidence on key environmental and climate challenges facing the olive oil sector, capturing proven best practices and innovative solutions to inform private sector decision‑making and investment.
- Foster peer learning and sector dialogue through a series of interactive e‑dialogues and technical exchanges, enabling stakeholders to share experiences, identify priority bottlenecks, capacity needs and practical, scalable solutions across the value chain, from production to distribution.
- Translate knowledge into investment opportunities by developing environmental briefs that highlight priority greening options, alongside investment briefs providing detailed technical and cost information to support bankable green investments.
Country level
- Diagnose sector challenges and green priorities across the Turkish olive oil value chain, from production and processing to distribution and retail, identifying where environmental gains and investment potential are greatest.
- Mobilise national stakeholders through a structured dialogue, bringing together public and private actors to review priorities, assess available solutions and align actions with Türkiye’s policy, market and operational context.
- Support engagement and uptake by producing concise briefs and communication materials that translate analysis into clear, actionable greening opportunities for the sector.
- Build technical understanding and capacity through practical guidance on priority topics such as waste and wastewater management, by‑product valorisation and good agricultural practices.
- Catalyse green investment by developing a dedicated investment brief that outlines priority opportunities, indicative costs and pathways for financing the greening of the sector.
- Create visibility and momentum through a national conference on environmental sustainability, showcasing solutions, sharing lessons and fostering partnerships.
- Set a clear pathway for transformation by delivering a national road map for greening the Turkish olive oil sector, outlining actions, responsibilities and investment priorities for long‑term sustainability and competitiveness.
