Olives have been an important staple in people’s lives from ancient civilizations to the present day. The use of the olive as a symbol dates back to ancient Greece or ancient Egypt, decorating the pyramids and appearing prominently in Greek mythology stories. In both Greek and Roman civilizations, olives came to represent purity due to their cleansing properties, and peace, introducing the concept of the ‘olive branch’, a symbol that still lives on today. The same meanings are found in the Abrahamic religions. For example, a passage in the Koran compares a lamp fueled by olive oil to the light of Allah. In Judaism, the oil that fueled the eternal flame in the Jewish story of Hanukkah came from the olive. In the Christian telling of the story of the Ark, when Noah sent a dove to determine whether the flood was over it returned holding an olive branch in its beak.

The olive, being one of the oldest known cultivated tree species worldwide, has become a predominant staple in the ingredients of cuisines around the world, particularly in the Mediterranean region, due to their health benefits and nutritional value. Even more so, olive oil has become particularly sacred in cuisines and cultures around the world, serving as a catalyst for social gatherings and symbolizing hospitality, friendship, and communion. Olive oil is renowned for promoting heart health and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, along with having anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to overall well being.

In Morocco, olive trees are the top species cultivated, encompassing 65 percent of the national fruit tree area, and the olive sector contributes significantly to the Moroccan economy. They also have a deep-rooted historical connection to Morocco and are well-adapted to the region’s ranging climate conditions. Despite the country’s significant and diverse production systems, olive oil exports remain low due to high production costs and lack of competitiveness. Packaged olive exports are also minimal, representing the need for greater initiatives focused on local processing and export of olive products.

In an effort to address this disconnect, the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) planted over 880,000 olive trees between 2023 and 2024 for 454 villages across the country, benefitting 3,743 farmers. Not only are olive trees well-suited to restore landscapes, prevent erosion, and manage water and soil, they also offer vast potential as carbon sinks for carbon offsetting. Carbon offsetting allows farmers to reinvest income generated from tree planting into greater sustainable agriculture practices. HAF’s carbon offset program aids farming families in the transition from intensive, nonorganic agriculture to options that are more ecologically sound in order to overcome the profit loss associated with this transition.

Ultimately, olive trees represent an ideal symbol not only historically, but also currently, as a path forward towards sustainability. While World Olive Day can be a way to spread awareness of the importance of olives, the benefits go far beyond just a single day or month, rather spanding lifetimes and generations.

Kaitlyn Waring is a student at Northeastern University in Boston, USA, and she is currently volunteering with the High Atlas Foundation in Morocco.