Pakistan and Spain Agree to Expand Cooperation in Olive Oil Production and Smart Farming

Pakistan and Spain have agreed to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, with a particular focus on olive cultivation, olive oil production, sustainable water management and modern farming technology. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Spain's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas Puchades, and Pakistan's Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, on the sidelines of an agricultural gathering in Turkey.

According to the discussions, the two sides reviewed opportunities to improve collaboration in olive planting, olive oil processing, agricultural research and the adoption of contemporary farming methods. Spain, one of the world's largest olive oil producers, expressed a willingness to share its technical expertise with Pakistan in areas such as modern irrigation, precision agriculture and the reuse of water resources.

The Spanish minister welcomed a Pakistani proposal to send a technical delegation to Spain to study advanced agricultural practices, meet relevant institutions and identify practical ways to transfer knowledge and technology. Both sides also discussed building links between their agricultural research institutions, technical specialists and related organizations to support capacity building and innovation.

Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted Pakistan's potential in olive cultivation and the development of a domestic olive oil industry. He said Pakistan could benefit from Spain's experience in orchard management, modern processing techniques, quality standards, value addition and international marketing, which could improve the productivity and competitiveness of the country's olive sector.

The Pakistani minister also stressed the need for water-efficient farming technologies to address climate change and growing water shortages. He noted that cooperation in precision farming and modern irrigation could raise crop yields, reduce input costs and support sustainable agricultural growth.

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening agricultural cooperation through technical collaboration, knowledge exchange and the adoption of modern, sustainable farming practices. The agreement could support Pakistan's efforts to reduce its reliance on imported edible oil over the longer term by expanding domestic olive production.