Mission
We are committed to a fair price for high quality olive oil. It should be worthwhile for olive growers to produce organically and sustainably, and to take care of the trees, nature and the preservation of cultural landscapes. Only a fair price that covers the true costs of this task will enable them to have a dignified standard of living while doing so. We hope that the next generation will also see their future in making a valuable contribution to healthy human nutrition, biodiversity and sustainability as olive growers.
The Problem
For many farmers it is not worthwhile to produce good olive oil. Even at a low cost and neglecting nature, most of the olive growers can barely survive. In fact, the average olive farmer is exploited economically, right among us here in Europe. Is it surprising that olive farmers end up in a poverty trap and illegal employment, that their children flee to the north, and that olive groves are neglected and go up in flames?
Exploitation? How did this happen?
Unfortunately, it is difficult for the consumer to distinguish really good from bad extra virgin olive oil. Such a market can end up in a downward spiral where suppliers of better quality are being displaced by cheap and adulterated goods. (In 2001, George Akerlof received the Nobel Prize for this insight.) The victims of this downward spiral are ultimately those who care for the centuries-old olive trees and have to live off them.
il circolo: towards 'exploitation-free' olive oil
Fortunately, there are ways out of the downward spiral. il circolo has set itself the goal of ending the exploitation in the olive oil market, together with your help. How do we want to achieve that? il circolo sees itself as a “social enterprise” and wants to change the olive oil business from within. We have a bold roadmap that shows us the way to high quality olive oil without exploiting people or nature.
We need you
Together we are stronger and can make all olive oil fair and sustainable. We support all fairly produced oil, no matter where it comes from. The more people choose fair olive oil, the more likely olive oil made without the exploitation of people and nature will become the norm in the oil business. Then we have finally come full circle: il circolo.
What you can do:
- Share our vision on social media.
- Share our olive oil: buy a bottle for yourself and give one to a friend.
- Whichever oil you buy, always go for exploitation free.