From March 13 to 15, Olio Capitale Expo returns to Trieste, the exhibition dedicated to high-quality extra virgin olive oil, featuring producers and professionals from across Italy and abroad.
On Friday, March 13, during the award ceremony of the 20th International Olio Capitale Competition, the Fondazione Italiana Fegato, together with the Chamber of Commerce Venezia Giulia | Trieste Gorizia, presented the O-Liver Section, which will become part of the official categories of the International Olio Capitale Competition starting from 2027.
The O-Liver section joins the traditional categories already awarded by the competition: “light fruity,” “medium fruity,” “intense fruity,” as well as special mentions including “Young,” “Regina Oleum,” “Origin,” “The Best BIO,” and “Ex Albis Ulivis.”
How does it work?
The Fondazione Italiana Fegato will define—also based on a recent review published in the scientific journal Nutrients (MDPI)—a technical note specifying the minimum polyphenol content required for extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) to qualify for the O-Liver section. The winning oil will be evaluated primarily based on its polyphenol content—natural compounds in EVOO known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are associated with liver health benefits.
This initiative is part of the outreach activities of the Fondazione Italiana Fegato, particularly its efforts to promote the consumption of high-quality extra virgin olive oil as a nutritional strategy to support the prevention and management of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition that is now highly prevalent and for which no definitive pharmacological treatment is currently available. Scientific evidence—including findings from the O-Liver research project promoted by FIF in collaboration with the Città dell’Olio network—indicates that polyphenols naturally present in EVOO exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the liver, helping to modulate key mechanisms involved in the progression of fatty liver disease.
The new section was presented by:
- Massimiliano Ciarrocchi, President of the Chamber of Commerce Venezia Giulia
- Claudio Tiribelli, Scientific Director of the Fondazione Italiana Fegato
With a contribution from:
- Natalia Rosso, Senior Scientist and Group Leader of the MASLD Unit at the Fondazione Italiana Fegato
