TWO GOLD MEDALS FOR ALGERIAN OLIVE OIL
Olive oil, a true nectar with a thousand virtues, continues to delight lovers of authentic flavours and products that are beneficial for health and longevity. And those who had the chance to attend the conference on olive oil conditioning organised during the last Djazagro trade show are convinced that Algeria is a land conducive to the development of olive oil.
It is also a land with a bright future, as the Algerian government aims to exceed one million hectares of olive groves by the end of 2024, compared to just 160,000 hectares at the start of the millennium, in line with its programme to produce one million olive trees.
A game-changing development plan that strengthens Algeria's position in the international market. "According to the International Olive Council (IOC) ranking, Algeria ranks fourth in the world for table olive production and seventh in terms of olive oil production area.
With an area of nearly 443,000 hectares spread over several regions of the country, olive trees now account for 45% of Algeria's tree-covered area," reports the online newspaper TSA.
This move upmarket is not only in terms of quantity but also quality. Further proof of this has just been provided by the two gold medals won at the Afro-Asian International Olive Oil Competition held in Abu Dhabi (1-4 April) by Ardhi, an extra virgin olive oil of the Chemlal variety produced by Adel Benadouda in Ain Ouessara, in the wilaya of Djelfa.
The gold medal in the ‘Quality’ category recognises the oil's organoleptic characteristics (aroma, balance, purity), while the medal in the ‘Health’ category celebrates the product's nutritional richness, particularly its concentration of natural antioxidants, polyphenols and monounsaturated fatty acids.
These distinctions are all the more remarkable given the fierce competition, with a jury of 10 experts having the difficult task of choosing between competing oils from 16 producing countries, including several leading olive oil producers (Greece, Spain, Italy, etc.).
The Algerian press duly celebrated this success in national agricultural innovation. ‘By winning these awards, Ardhi oil has become an ideal ambassador for representing Algeria's agri-food quality,’ concluded La Nouvelle Tribune.
Discover here the presentation of this exceptional oil by its producer, Adel Benadouda.