[One of the Top 100 Sustainable Tourism Destinations in the World in 2022] Olive-based regional development.

Shodoshima is the largest olive-growing region in Japan. Olives are now the basis of the island's food industry and the symbol of 'Shodoshima, the Island of Tourism.'

However, it has not always been smooth sailing. When cheap imported olives from abroad appeared on the market during the period of high economic growth, the cultivated area and harvest of olives on Shodoshima dropped drastically for a time.
At this time, the public and private sectors worked together on the 'Olive World Concept' was launched to 'protect the olives as a local resource.' As a result, the Shodoshima Olive Park was created, which now attracts over 380,000 tourists a year and has become a major tourist attraction on the island.

Furthermore, in 2003, the former Uchiumi Town was designated as a 'special olive promotion zone,' allowing various companies on the island to enter the olive-growing industry.
In 2008, the Shodo Island Olive Top One Project was launched to differentiate the quality of the olives and add value, as other regions began to enter the olive-growing market, and various projects have been developed through public-private partnerships.

Shodoshima's olives have thus grown through the tireless efforts of past generations. The olive oil of Shodoshima is characterized not only by its high quality, which has earned it a high reputation in international olive oil competitions, but also by the way it has been utilized for a variety of possibilities.

"The oil scraps that would normally be thrown away are dried and used as fodder for olive cows."
"The pruned branches and leaves are crushed and fermented to make fertilizer for new olives."

In this way, sustainable, recycling-oriented agriculture is being formed.

Olives have become a major product in Japan in recent years as people have become more health-conscious, but we have faced, nurtured, and been close to olives since they were 'stranger trees'.
In order to preserve the 'beautiful landscape with olives' for future generations, as the birthplace of olive cultivation in Japan, we will continue to work towards the creation of a sustainable region with olives at its core.