The European Soil O-Live project, coordinated by the University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils at the University of Jaén, recognises the excellence of extra virgin olive oil and the health of the soil from which it is produced.
The oils KM15, from Marrakech (Morocco); Olive Genesis, from the Sierra Sur de Jaén; and Almazaras de la Subbética, from Carcabuey (Córdoba), together with the Arkilakis olive oil from La Puebla de Don Fadrique (Granada), were the star attractions of the third edition of the ‘Soil O -Live: The Soil Health & Olive Oil Quality Awards 2026’, the winners of which were announced following deliberations by the international panel of experts.
The competition, organised as part of the European Soil O-Live project, coordinated by the University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils (INUO) at the University of Jaén, is a pioneering initiative in the olive oil sector, as it jointly assesses the organoleptic quality of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and the biological health of the soil from which it is produced.
In the ‘Lightly Fruity’ category, the award went to KM15, made from ‘Picholine du Languedoc’ olives sourced from Marrakech (Morocco). The jury highlighted a light, green-olive fruitiness with notes of tomato and almond, hints of fresh grass and nuts, and a sweet attack on the palate with a gentle bitterness and piquancy, resulting in a delicate and balanced oil.
In the Medium Fruity category, the prize went to Olive Genesis, produced from the ‘Picual’ variety in the Sierra Sur region of Jaén. The experts highlighted its green olive profile, with aromas of green almond, aromatic herbs and wild flowers, as well as an excellent balance between bitterness and pungency.
Meanwhile, the award for Intense Fruity went to Almazaras de la Subbética, from Carcabuey (Córdoba), for an oil with an intense green olive fruitiness, notes of vegetation, green almond, tomato plant and wild flowers, and a balanced flavour profile with great character.
In addition, the competition has awarded the special prize for Best Soil to Aceite Arkilakis, from the Arkilakis Estate in La Puebla de Don Fadrique (Granada). The technical committee has recognised this farm for recording an outstanding soil cellular respiration rate (5.12 µg CO₂-C g⁻¹ h⁻¹), an indicator reflecting high microbial activity and biodiversity.
Unlike conventional competitions, the participating oil mills submitted both a sample of oil and a physical sample of the topsoil from the source, which was georeferenced to ensure its traceability. In the first stage, the technical committee assessed the biological health of each olive grove using basal soil respiration, one of the main indicators of soil quality. Only samples from the soils with the best results progressed to the final tasting stage, in which a total of 48 oils took part.
The final tasting took place on 4 June at Deoleo’s headquarters and was judged by a panel comprising specialists from the Spanish Association of Olive-Growing Municipalities (AEMO), IFAPA, the Oleoteca de Córdoba and Deoleo Global, who assessed the samples in accordance with the official regulations of the International Olive Council. The awards will be presented this coming September at a ceremony, the date and venue of which will be announced shortly.
For the project coordinator, Antonio Manzaneda, Professor of Ecology at the University of Jaén, this third edition confirms the competition’s consolidation and the growing international interest in a model that links the sustainability of olive groves with the excellence of the oil. “This competition was created to demonstrate that the soil is the source of excellence. Environmental sustainability should not be seen as an obligation, but as a competitive advantage capable of resulting in higher-quality olive oils”, he points out.
The Soil O-Live project brings together an international consortium of fifteen academic, scientific and business institutions and aims to promote sustainable olive grove management practices, improve the health of Mediterranean soils and scientifically demonstrate that healthy soil contributes to the production of higher-quality and more stable extra virgin olive oils.
Source: Soil O-Live Project
