Researchers from the University of Jaén – Juan Antonio Parrilla González, from the Department of Economics, and Diego Manuel Martínez Gila, from the Department of Electronic and Automatic Engineering – have taken part as guest speakers at the third edition of the Elia Lesvos Confest, a prestigious international conference bringing together some of the world’s leading experts on olive oil.
This event, organised by the Eleas Nissos Association and endorsed by the International Olive Council (IOC), Yale University and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), has established itself as one of the leading scientific and strategic gatherings focusing on olive oil, health and technology.
In this context, Juan Antonio Parrilla González gave three presentations focusing on the challenges facing olive oil, how this product is perceived, and how to create culinary experiences from a gastronomic perspective. Meanwhile, Diego Manuel Martínez Gila, a researcher at the Robotics and Automation Unit of the University Institute for Research into Olive Groves and Olive Oils (INUO) at the University of Jaén, discussed the use of non-invasive technologies in modern olive oil production.
The participation of these researchers highlights the University of Jaén’s role as a leading centre for generating and transferring knowledge in the olive sector, and INUO’s contribution to developing innovative solutions that integrate economics, technology, and sustainability.
During the meeting, researchers from the UJA shared the stage with leading international figures, such as Alessandro Leone, professor at the Aldo Moro University of Bari; Ramón Estruch, professor of Medicine at the University of Barcelona and coordinator of the renowned PREDIMED study; Emmanuel Karpadakis, an expert from Terra Creta and the International Olive Oil Network (IOON); Tassos Kyriakides, a lecturer at Yale University and a champion of research into olive oil and health; and Juan Antonio Polo Palomino, Head of Olive Oil Technology and Environment at the IOC.
The ‘Elia Lesvos Confest’ has established itself as a cutting-edge forum, addressing the future of olive oil from a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates economic development, health, sustainability and technological innovation. In just three editions, this event has become a key platform for scientific and strategic exchange within the olive oil sector.
Throughout its various editions, the forum has welcomed researchers and academic staff from renowned international institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Athens and the University of Bari Aldo Moro, as well as leading research centres such as Temple University’s Alzheimer’s Centre in Philadelphia. This reinforces the global nature of the forum and its high scientific standard.
The University of Jaén’s active participation in such initiatives strengthens its international profile and consolidates the INUO’s position as a leading centre for multidisciplinary research into olive groves and olive oils. This is in line with the university’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and knowledge transfer.
