In June 2026, the PREDIMED Omics 2026 Symposium and the 6th International Congress on Olive Oils and Health will bring together scientists and health professionals from the University of Navarra, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and other leading research centres in Jaén.
The city of Jaén will host the PREDIMED Omics 2026 Symposium and the 6th International Congress on Olive Oils and Health on 11 and 12 June 2026. This leading scientific event will once again place the province at the centre of the international debate on nutrition and health, focusing particularly on the role of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and the Mediterranean diet in preventing chronic diseases.
The event is organised by the University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils (INUO) at the University of Jaén, the University of Navarra, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and is funded by the Provincial Council of Jaén. Now in its sixth edition, the congress builds on the work that began in 2004, establishing Jaén as a global leader in the research of the health-promoting properties of olive oils and their impact on human health and the environment.
Continuing a well-established scientific tradition
The International Congress on Olive Oils and Health has previously been held five times, in 2004, 2008, 2018, 2021 and 2024. The most recent edition, held in May 2024, highlighted the growing body of scientific evidence supporting the benefits of consuming extra virgin olive oil in the prevention of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases and certain types of cancer, as well as its contribution to the sustainability of the agri-food system.
The findings presented during this meeting reinforced the role of EVOO as a key food within a healthy and sustainable diet, highlighting the importance of scientific research as a fundamental tool for advancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in its beneficial effects.
An edition with a strong international presence
The 2026 edition takes on a significant international dimension thanks to its joint hosting with the PREDIMED Omics Symposium, a leading scientific forum organised since 2015 by Professors Frank B. Hu, Director of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Miguel A. Martínez-González, Professor at the University of Navarra and Principal Investigator of the PREDIMED and PREDIMED-Plus clinical trials, funded by the European Research Council (ERC).
Joining them will be leading experts such as María Puy Portillo, scientific director of CIBEROBN, Jordi Salas Salvadó, Ramón Estruch, José J. Gaforio and other prominent researchers from universities and international research centres, ensuring a programme of the highest international scientific standard.
This partnership will enable the presentation of the latest advances in nutritional epidemiology, metabolomics and the omics sciences. It will promote a multidisciplinary approach focused on the prevention of 21st-century diseases and the promotion of health from a precision medicine perspective.
Scientific programme and thematic sessions
The conference’s scientific programme will address the main current challenges in nutrition and health through three major thematic sessions:
- The Mediterranean Diet and Olive Oils in Health Promotion, with a particular focus on the prevention of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
- Nutrition and Omics Sciences, with a specific focus on metabolomics and its application in nutritional research to understand the biological impact of dietary interventions.
- Prospective Cohorts and the Risk of Chronic Diseases, based on evidence from long-term cohort studies linking nutrition to the prevention of chronic diseases of the 21st century.
The event will include plenary sessions, round-table discussions, olive oil tastings, as well as complementary activities aimed at knowledge transfer and interaction between the scientific community, the agri-food sector and institutions. In addition, opportunities will be provided for both established researchers and early-career scientists to present their work in the form of oral presentations or posters, with prizes awarded for the best proposals.
Beyond its role as an academic forum, this conference aims to become a strategic space for collaboration and knowledge transfer. It will offer specialised resources, networking opportunities and the chance to promote joint projects that reinforce scientific excellence in the field of olive oil. In this regard, the city of Jaén reaffirms its position as an international hub for research and innovation, promoting olive oils not only as an iconic food of the Mediterranean diet, but also as a key driver for the promotion of health and global sustainability.
Source: INUO (27/02/2026)
