The olive tree in ancient Athens was safeguarded by strict laws, highlighting its role as a sentinel of Athenian prosperity and identity. In the 6th century BC, the revered legislator Solon, credited with laying the foundations of Athenian democracy, enacted statutes specifically designed to protect these vital trees. He recognized that the future of Athens…
The article discusses the threats facing olive cultivation due to climate change, including declining precipitation and solar activity, which challenges the long-term sustainability and productivity of olive farming in the Mediterranean. The study highlights the importance of adaptation strategies, such as genetic improvement and ecological practices, to mitigate the impact of climate change on olive…
A study in Tunisia examined physical characteristics of five olive cultivars for use in olive grove design and management, analyzing traits such as branching patterns, shoot length, and fruit production. The researchers believe that architectural analysis can inform decisions on cultivar selection, orchard layout, and pruning, potentially improving sustainable olive production when combined with sensor…
Researchers at a recent conference in Italy presented a tool that integrates satellite data to combat and prevent olive fruit fly infestations in the face of climate change. The tool combines satellite observations, biological modeling, and open-source geographic information to provide strategic analysis in agricultural management and inform policymakers on reshaping pest control strategies. The project, funded…
The Andalusian government has expropriated several hectares of agricultural and livestock land for solar panels. Rafael Navas Ferrer, president of the Agricultural Association of Young Farmers (ASAJA) in Cordoba, Spain, pointed out the risks of such policies for agriculture in a conversation with europeanconservative.com. Navas Ferrer argued, Agricultural land has a productive value that should not…
There is an olive tree close to us here in interior Alentejo that has been dated and certified with more than 2000 years. I like to imagine what she’s seen: the Romans, the Moors, the Christian kings and queens. She has watched the cultivation of olive oil, of wine in amphora, and the extraction of…
This study aims to use a rich, millennia-long anthracological dataset to observe the role of Olea europaea L. in the Early and Middle Holocene woody vegetation used by prehistoric groups in the circum-Aegean area. A synthesis of previous and new data obtained in the context of ERC project PlantCult, reflects variations in the distribution and…
Increased environmental concerns over the use of peat for seedling and sapling production has stimulated a quest to find peat alternatives to improve the sustainability of agroecological production systems in Mediterranean climates. This study aimed to develop the use of locally sourced recycled plant residues as effective alternatives to peat in horticultural growing media. The…
The growing potential of integrating olive heritage with tourism has grown exponentially in recent years. Several Mediterranean countries, particularly islands, have recognized how this value chain generates significant benefits in rural regions, opening other destinations in areas that, until recently, were considered less favourable for conventional tourism. Developing a tourism model based on olive groves,…
This study investigates the impact of three understorey management practices – herbicide application, understorey clearing, and undisturbed understorey – on the biodiversity of plant and arthropods in olive groves in the Gera region on Lesvos, Greece. The study found that herbicide application had a negative effect on plant diversity, but less pronounced effects on arthropods….