European Union invests €205 million in programs to promote sustainable agricultural products

European olive oil among the products benefiting from the largest ever investment in the valorization of quality agricultural products

The European Commission has announced the largest ever investment to promote sustainable and high-quality agri-food products in the European Union. €205 million will be available in 2026 to finance dissemination programs both in the European internal market and in third countries.

This decision represents a historic opportunity for sectors such as olive oil – a fundamental pillar of the Mediterranean Diet and a product of excellence in regions such as Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, where the olive-growing tradition spans generations and centuries-old olive groves hold centuries of history and know-how.

A strategic commitment to European quality

Of the total investment, €160 million will be allocated to direct subsidies, focusing both on internal promotion and on conquering new international markets. Additionally, €10 million will be reserved to respond to crisis situations in the agricultural sector.

The program includes strategic markets such as the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, and North America – territories where products like Portuguese extra virgin olive oil can gain even more international recognition.

In addition to direct funding, the European Commission is preparing a new communication campaign aimed at European consumers, with the goal of reinforcing pride and awareness of the exceptional quality of EU agricultural products. This campaign will take place in all Member States and will highlight the fundamental role of European farmers in the social and economic fabric of the Union.

Opportunities for Portuguese olive oil

Portugal, and particularly the Northern region, can significantly benefit from these funds. Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro have one of the richest and most authentic olive groves in Europe, with millennial olive trees, endemic varieties, and PDO olive oils that combine tradition, sustainability, and exceptional quality.

Producer groups, cooperatives, and other sector agents can apply for these programs to promote Portuguese olive oil in new markets, strengthen olive tourism, and increase international recognition of national olive oils.

There are already examples of success, such as PEMETE's ongoing program to promote organic table olives in Poland and France. However, Portuguese olive oil still faces bureaucratic challenges that have delayed access to some of these European programs.

A promising future for European agricultural products

This unprecedented investment recognizes the economic, cultural and environmental value of European agriculture. For regions like Trás-os-Montes, it represents an opportunity to continue writing the millennial history of olive oil – now with global reach and with the recognition that the producers, the centuries-old olive trees and the territory deserve.

The olive oil of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro is not just an agricultural product. It is the expression of a territory of schist and granite, of hot summers and harsh winters, of families who have cared for the olive groves for generations. It is heritage, identity and future.

And now, with this support from the European Union, that future can be even more promising.

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