The University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils (INUO) at the University of Jaén has announced the Predimed Omics 2026 Symposium and 6th International Congress on Olive Oils and Health, which will take place in Jaén on 11 and 12 June 2026. Building on the success of the previous five editions, which took place in Jaén in 2004, 2008, 2018, 2021 and 2024, "this new edition will further establish the University of Jaén and the province of Jaén as international leaders in the study and research of olive oils and their health benefits". The Rector of the University of Jaén, Nicolás Ruiz, made this statement during his presentation, in which he outlined the main aspects of this international event alongside the President of the Provincial Council of Jaén, Francisco Reyes, and the Director of INUO, Juan B. Barroso.
Nicolás Ruiz has declared that "it is a source of great pride that the University of Jaén is playing a leading role in this important event for the province of Jaén. Through INUO, a world-leading centre for research and innovation in olive oils and olive groves, we are collaborating with the Provincial Council of Jaén to host a new edition of the International Congress on Olive Oils and Health. As you know, this event is of great national and international significance”.
The Rector also emphasised that this conference will bring some of the most prestigious national and international researchers and health professionals together in Jaén to discuss topics such as the latest developments regarding olive oil as a nutritious and beneficial food, as well as nutritional culture and gastronomy. The conference will be chaired by Miguel Ángel Martínez-González, Full Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Navarra and one of the world’s leading figures in epidemiology, preventive medicine and nutrition, as a scientific director.
Thematic sessions
The sixth edition of the International Congress on Olive Oils and Health will focus on analysing the beneficial effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on human health. EVOO is linked to the prevention of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease and cancer, and to slowing down the ageing process. The congress will also address important aspects relating to the consumption and marketing of olive oils, the Mediterranean diet, and healthy nutrition.
More specifically, this year’s programme includes a dedicated session presenting the latest findings on the prevention of chronic diseases in the 21st century. This session will focus particularly on the role of metabolomics in studying the Mediterranean diet. The event aims to provide an enriching forum for the scientific community and professionals alike, advancing knowledge of olive oil and promoting health through its appropriate consumption.
In this regard, the Rector emphasised that "We want to strengthen research and scientific dissemination on olive oils and health from Jaén for the world, so that we may continue to be a global benchmark in this important field. That is why we will always spearhead initiatives such as today’s, which seek to reinforce the recognition of extra virgin olive oil as a premium healthy product”.
For his part, the president of the Provincial Council of Jaén has stated that this is a conference that “places Jaén at the forefront and establishes it as a benchmark in all matters relating to olive oil research”. “We never tire of saying it: we are the world’s leading producers of olive oil, and this event reinforces our leading position within the olive oil sector,” he declared. In this regard, he emphasised the need for the findings from this and previous editions to reach the wider public.
Finally, the director of the INUO highlighted the international aspect of this conference, reiterating that it positions Jaén as a global leader in health and olive oils ‘thanks to the University of Jaén’s excellent relationships with top-level researchers and the research capacity of the INUO in the province’.
Source: ‘Diario Digital de la Universidad de Jaén’ (21/10/2025)
