Articles
Agroecological strategies for table olive production in Greece: increasing sustainability and resilience through an integrated approach
Article number
1457_95
Pages
757 – 762
Language
English
Abstract
Table olives production is an important element for Greek and Mediterranean agriculture.
The farming methods employed are more intensive than those used for olive oil production, due to the relatively stricter quality standards for olive fruit.
Nevertheless, intensification generates a greater environmental impact, particularly in terms of resource depletion, soil health, climate-related emissions, and biodiversity, thereby putting the sustainability and resilience of the olive farming system at risk.
Contrariwise, agroecological approaches, emphasizing best farming practices like reduced soil management, cover crop use, agroecosystem diversification, and optimal resource management, can deliver tangible results for increasing sustainability and resilience.
Through a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, we have implemented an integrated agroecological plan on 15 farms in central Greece, which commercially produce table olives.
The main pillars of sustainability improvement were i) inputs & resources management, ii) climate footprint, iii) soil health, and iv) biodiversity enhancement.
Farmers adopted a set of practices through constant training and consultancy support, including the use of cover crops, reduced soil tillage, integrated pest management, and the production and use of compost from farm residues, as well as landscape enhancement by incorporating ecological infrastructure elements.
The initial outcomes of the strategy’s implementation highlight a significant decrease in the use of inputs and an increase in knowledge of proper farming methods and practices.
Based on the above, a private standard’s label is planned to be applied by a broader group of olive farmers and other fruit crops.
The farming methods employed are more intensive than those used for olive oil production, due to the relatively stricter quality standards for olive fruit.
Nevertheless, intensification generates a greater environmental impact, particularly in terms of resource depletion, soil health, climate-related emissions, and biodiversity, thereby putting the sustainability and resilience of the olive farming system at risk.
Contrariwise, agroecological approaches, emphasizing best farming practices like reduced soil management, cover crop use, agroecosystem diversification, and optimal resource management, can deliver tangible results for increasing sustainability and resilience.
Through a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, we have implemented an integrated agroecological plan on 15 farms in central Greece, which commercially produce table olives.
The main pillars of sustainability improvement were i) inputs & resources management, ii) climate footprint, iii) soil health, and iv) biodiversity enhancement.
Farmers adopted a set of practices through constant training and consultancy support, including the use of cover crops, reduced soil tillage, integrated pest management, and the production and use of compost from farm residues, as well as landscape enhancement by incorporating ecological infrastructure elements.
The initial outcomes of the strategy’s implementation highlight a significant decrease in the use of inputs and an increase in knowledge of proper farming methods and practices.
Based on the above, a private standard’s label is planned to be applied by a broader group of olive farmers and other fruit crops.
Publication
Authors
V.D. Gkisakis, A. Gallenne, P. Diamantis, C. Karamitsios
Keywords
table olives, agroecology, resilience, climate, soil health, cover crops, biodiversity
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