ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has decided to strengthen its scientific collaboration with Italy in the field of olive research and cultivation.
The decision was finalized during a meeting chaired by Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.
At the meeting, it was agreed to formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB) and the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy. This partnership will facilitate access to internationally recognized olive varieties, foster joint research initiatives, and provide specialized training programs for Pakistani scientists and technicians in cutting-edge olive cultivation techniques.
In addition, the Ministry announced plans to soon formulate Phase-III of the Promotion of Olive Cultivation on a Commercial Scale in Pakistan. This next phase is expected to significantly enhance olive production across the country, building on the successes of earlier phases.
The meeting also underscored Pakistan’s significant progress in transforming marginal and uncultivated lands into thriving olive orchards. This transformation is seen as a key driver for improving climate resilience, supporting livelihood diversification, and reducing the country’s dependency on olive oil imports.
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, speaking at the meeting, emphasized the critical importance of expanding olive plantations across Pakistan’s suitable agro-climatic zones. He stressed that strengthening the entire olive value chain—from cultivation to processing—would be essential in unlocking both long-term economic and environmental benefits, ensuring that the olive industry becomes a sustainable and competitive sector in the years to come.
