Organically cultivated olive oil

Organic cultivation of the olive

According to the EEC 2092/91community regulations (Organic Production of Agricultural Products), Organic Agriculture can be defined as a management system for rural exploitation involving restrictions on the utilization of synthetic chemical fertilizers or pharmaceutical products. It is the production of plant and animal products with non-invasive means and with the most natural processes possible, without the use of substances such as chemical fertilizers, chemical agricultural pharmaceutical products, synthetic feed and regulating substances. Organic Agriculture uses cultivation techniques and plant health protection and fertilization methods which do not pose a risk to the environment, thus making the best use modern achievements of scientific methods, experience and the Greek traditional approach.

Planning an organic olive grove

Proper planning to plant an olive grove and its initial management are of great significance in the avoidance of potential problems. In the case where the plan is inadequate, imbalances may be caused which promote harmful organisms instead of beneficial ones, which pose obstacles to the optimum growth and productive output of the olive trees.

Planting organic olive groves

Planting a new olive grove for the production of organic products requires a plan that allows for the best possible use of available resources of the olive grove and its potential agricultural exploitation. When planning a new olive grove, the roles an organic olive grove could play should be taken into consideration, as well as its contribution to the rural area.

The first aspect is the agro-economic one, that is to say plantation should aim at the optimum level of production for the given variety, the soil and climatic conditions of the field. This level is evaluated by taking into consideration the changing demands of the market for products of olive cultivations, which increasingly require higher quality of production, instead of the maximum output, as well as the protection of environment.

The second aspect is the Ecological, meaning that the olive grove should at least contribute to the sustainable preservation of the natural environment and landscape.

The third aspect is the socio-economic, meaning that the olive grove should not create unhealthy working conditions for olive farmers, while it should provide them with a satisfactory income and labor, as well as contributing to the economic development of rural areas. It should also offer consumers healthy products of good quality.

Taking into account how an organic olive grove, as mentioned above, operates, planning one or planning a cultivation zone with organic olive groves becomes easier.

Trees that are old in age and in good condition should be taken into account in the area where a new olive grove is to be planted. The strategy should examine the way and the direction in which olive trees will be planted, the existence of terraces and dry-stone walls, as well as the vegetation on the borders of the olive grove.

The land on which the new olive grove is to be situated should be evaluated to determine its microclimatic conditions, as well as the desirable characteristics related to parameters such as humidity, aeration and shade. These parameters should be taken into consideration because they affect the physiological condition of the trees and the beneficial and harmful organisms in the olive grove.

Basic characteristics of the land, such as old trees and old stone walls no longer of value should be removed, with the necessary clearance works, and levelling. Damage to areas where wild fauna and flora are to be found should be avoided as far as possible; there are many varieties of species which will not interfere with the operation. Also rocky and stony areas should also be maintained as far as possible, because they are a shelter for many beneficial organisms.

When planting a new olive grove, the quality of the soil should be assessed by a soil analysis. With this analysis, any problems related to the composition of the soil, the levels of macro-elements and their availability, the pH, or the level of organic substance may be determined. Based on the above assessments, a decision may be taken on the following: suitable fertilization planning to correct any deficiencies in nutritious elements, soil depth and layers which improve the natural and chemical attributes of the soil, quantity and extent of irrigation, if irrigation is to be used.

Clearances, levelling or the creation of terraces should be planned in such a way, so as to avoid retaining or aggravating soil problems.

The flora and the fauna in the location where the olive grove is situated and in the surrounding region should be investigated with the purpose of encouraging beneficial species and avoiding harmful species that are difficult to control. Thus, management methods may be prepared for these species.

The choice of variety or varieties should not be made only with their yield as a criterion, but also with the following criteria: climatic requirements and adaptation to the microclimate of the region, resistance to insects and pathogens that are found in the region, requirements in water and nutritious elements and their short-term and long-term availability in the olive grove.

The management of soil cover in organic olive groves is done with the use of vegetable mulch. Mulch offers a variety of functions in the agro-ecosystem of olive groves, while they considerably contribute to a efficient and effective ecological management of the olive grove. For the surface soil, a mixture of legumes, grasses and other plant species are used, so that their different properties complement each other.

Fertilization constitutes an important part of the management of olive groves, and aims to preserve good fertility and the natural condition of the soil. The soil consistency and its texture directly affect water retention and aeration, and also affect root growth, as well as the growth of beneficial micro-organisms. For fertilization, green organic fertilization materials are used (animal and plant manures (composts), processed seaweed, ash, leaves, timber residue, etc.), while periodic addition of small quantities of phosphorus or potassium in forms that are permitted by the 2092/91 regulation may be required.

The formation of the size and the form of olive trees in organic olive groves is exclusively done by pruning, since the use of chemical growth regulators are not permitted by the 2092/91 regulation.

Pruning, together with irrigation and plant protection, significantly contributes to productivity. In the organic cultivation of the olive, pruning is one of the main essential farming activities, because it secures regular fruit growth and longevity of the olive trees; it provides a better balance in the quantity of shoots, and avoidance of excessive production of fruits that the tree is unable to support, regeneration of trees, it limits requirements for nutritious elements, the prevention of disease and secures a better general defense against enemies of the olive; and also secures harvesting with greater ease. Pruning is done whenever necessary, while only unnecessary parts should be removed, not only parts easily reached.

Plant health protection in the organic cultivation of the olive aims to re-establish ecological balance, the achievement of which reduces the population of harmful insects and pathogens to such levels that economic problems from infection are avoided. The ecological balance is achieved with the proper execution of essential farming works (pruning, fertilization, irrigation) and with the protection of beneficial organisms.

Plant health protection in organic olive cultivation aims to prevent and avoid illnesses; it requires the implementation of only absolutely necessary interventions. Apart from the execution of the appropriate farming work, plant health protection in organic olive cultivation is necessary mainly in the transitional stage because ecological balance has not yet been achieved. Organic formulas are used only when it is absolutely necessary (e.g. Bacillus thuringiensis), as well as insecticides (of plant or mineral origin) and which are permitted by(2091/92) regulations. The level of infection, as well as the necessity and the time when measures are applied are important in the implementation of plant health protection.

Comprehensive plant health protection of the olive in organic olive cultivation is based on combating its most significant enemies, especially insects.

In search of new developing markets

Research that has been conducted to date in England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and in Italy shows that organic agricultural products are in demand and enjoy higher prices compared to conventional agricultural products, while the US and Canadian market remain open, where consumers are particularly sensitive to organic product issues.

Market Penetration Strategy

Ways to increase the market share of organic olive oil and edible olives should be sought. In order for this to happen, current customers should be actively encouraged to increase their purchase of organic olive oil; groups of customers (those concerned with dietary issues and customers with other entrenched habits) must be attracted, the needs of which can be satisfied with organic olive oil; those who do not use organic olive oil or edible olives need to be convinced.

In order to satisfy the requirements of consumers who buy organic olive oil, its availability throughout the year should be secured, so that there is an effective growth of distribution through companies or organizations in the market; specialized personnel should be used who can inform customers at the points of sale.

Market position of olive products

Problems

In Greece, excellent products are produced which are known worldwide, but for various reasons, they have not met with the success they deserve in the market. We are lacking in commercial organization, in the monitoring and application of guidelines of regulatory and export institutions, as well as in research.

Conclusions

In 1962, when the American journalist, Rachel Carson published the book “Silent Spring”, she touched on a sensitive chord in society and posed this simple, but provocative question:

Should man, who has reached the stars and holds the weapons of his own destruction in his hands, strive for victories, or should he be searching for the balance in his environment? The book initially provoked strong reactions, especially from agricultural and chemical industries. Society today has raised its awareness significantly and environmental protection is one of every government’s main priorities.

Proposals

Alternative olive cultivation, as a vertically integrated process of organic olive oil production is now the way to follow. In Thassos,for example, where the main product is olive oil, initiatives should be taken to secure and promote our products and to begin efforts so that the problems facing cultivation may be understood on a local level and attempts to solve them begin.

All institutions should wok together on a national scale. It should be possible for all producers and their cooperative societies, those who formulate regulations and standards, researchers, scientists, local and national government agencies to work together on these issues which are applied on a local level.

Special seminars need to take place, to update olive-producers on the alternative forms of cultivation of olive trees.

Farmers who are not interested in applying the alternative forms of olive cultivation should at least decrease the use of pesticides and avoid spraying insecticides, the remains of which are detected in the oil a long time after the olive has been extracted.

Consumers should be informed, have their awareness of the issues raised, and demand healthy products, free of unacceptable toxic residues.

Farmers should be encouraged to turn towards alternative forms of olive cultivation, and appreciate the benefits which arise from increasing demand for such products.

The role of agricultural cooperatives in this attempt should be considerable.

When dealing with the development of Integrated Olive Production, those who approve the required budgets and those who recommend, legislate and apply the measures that will help in their application, to benefit agriculture and consumers, must be prepared to confront the reactions of those with opposing interests or who see a conflict of interests in these attempts. There should be special terms amongst these essential measures which will secure the production output of those olive producers who have proven that they apply Integrated Olive Production.

Source: Dimitra Profitou-Athanasiadou, Professor of Agronomics, Aristotel University of Thessaloniki.