From 14 to 21 December 2025, CIHEAM Bari hosted in Italy a training and study visit on the olive oil value chain within the framework of the KORES Project – Rural Empowerment of the Kurdistan Region through the Sustainable Development of the Olive Oil Value Chain. The initiative is an Italian Cooperation project, implemented by CIHEAM Bari in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and aims to promote sustainable rural development by strengthening the olive oil sector in the Kurdistan Region.

The visit was specifically designed to support the Olive Oil Working Group in the preparation of policy guidelines for the development of the olive oil sector in the Kurdistan Region, strengthening the evidence base for informed policymaking.

The activity focused on enhancing the technical and institutional capacities of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government through the transfer of knowledge and good practices from the Italian olive oil sector.

The programme combined classroom sessions and technical field visits, providing a comprehensive overview of the olive oil value chain, including plant propagation, orchard management, olive oil processing, quality control, certification systems, marketing, and territorial valorisation.

Participants engaged with public institutions, research centres, producers’ organisations, cooperatives, and private companies in Apulia, gaining practical insights into climate-resilient production models, quality standards, value addition, and governance mechanisms supporting sustainable olive oil production.