Olive oil is a key component of the Mediterranean diet, thought to be responsible for the longevity of southern European populations and their low rates of heart disease.
Spaniards are three times less likely than northern Europeans to contract heart disease.
Olives have a high content of antioxidant polyphenols and have been studied for their benefits on heart health, protection against Alzheimer's and cancer.
The conference , taking place in Jaen, the centre of the country's olive oil production, aims to persuade governments to invest more money in olive oil research.
The organisers claim that barely 10 per cent of olive oil's properties are widely known.
One company involved in marketing the healthy crop, Genosa I+D, has recently launched an olive oil-based product, enriched with fish oil and antioxidants, to give it an ideal balance of fatty acids.
Spain produces 50 per cent of the world's olive oil, ahead of other key producers Italy and Greece.
