José María Penco

José María Penco is an agronomist, consultant, manager, and olive farmer in Córdoba. He holds a BSc in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Córdoba, an Executive MBA from the International Institute San Telmo in Seville, and a Master's degree in Olive Growing and Olive Oil Technology from the University of Córdoba. He is currently the Director of the Association of Spanish Olive Oil Municipalities (AEMO), an organization consisting of 170 communities across Spain, and the Executive Secretary of the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Olive Oil Cities (Recomed), an association that includes 10 Mediterranean olive-growing countries.

Before this, José María worked as a project designer for over 15 years, developing numerous food-industry projects, particularly in olive oil. Early in his career, he worked as an agronomist for the Cádiz government and managed agribusiness companies in the oil and wine sectors. He is the author of several scientific papers on olive and olive oil production and has lectured at various national and international forums on modern olive cultivation techniques, cost and market analysis, and quality control. He is a member of several tasting panels in Spain, including those of Cádiz, Córdoba, and Seville, and is a renowned international judge and director of the EVOOLEUM international olive oil competition.