How does climate change threaten olive trees?
Arabia Weather - When we think of the olive tree, we imagine its ancient branches and green leaves that are gently colored by the sun’s rays, and we see rows of these trees extending along the hills, planted generation after generation; As it carries the rich history, culture and agricultural heritage of many regions in the world.
However, today the olive tree is under serious threat; Because of climate change, and in this article we will talk about how climate change threatens this ancient symbol and what we can do to protect it.
Climate change and its relationship to olive trees
Climate change is a major challenge facing the world today, and it has negative impacts on many plants and crops, including the olive tree; The olive tree is one of the important trees in the world, and is considered a major source of olive oil and an important food in many cultures. However, climate change represents a major threat to this tree and the olive industry from more than one aspect, including:
Effect of high temperatures
One of the biggest impacts of climate change is rising temperatures; High temperatures negatively affect the olive tree in several ways, including:
- It can increase water evaporation from the soil , making farming more complex in water-scarce areas.
- It can contribute to worsening the problem of drought , which leads to reduced moisture in the soil and reduced fruit production.
The olive tree is negatively and severely affected by the lack of rain and repeated heat waves, which led to its fruits falling before they reach the appropriate level of maturity.
It is worth noting that the drought and high temperatures that Spain was exposed to led to a decrease in olive oil production by half, as Spain produced only 1.5 million tons in 2023, and that the price of olive oil jumped this year by 112% compared to the previous year, according to a report published by the Ministry of Agriculture. And Spanish food last month.
Rain pattern changes
Climate change can also lead to a change in the rainfall pattern, and in some areas, floods or droughts may exceed the normal limit, and this leads to a reduction in olive tree productivity; Excess rain can cause water to seep into tree roots, leading to the fall of flowers and fruits. On the other hand, drought may reduce tree growth and fruit production.
Drought and abnormally high temperatures in Spain bring serious concerns about what can be described as a “disaster” threatening the olive oil industry in the country, which is the largest producer and exporter of this product in the world, and this sector, which was greatly affected in 2022, faces a decline. in its production and the possibility of recording a severe shortage in oil quantities.
In this context, Cristobal Cano, Secretary General of the Farmers' Union of Southern Spain, which is considered the center of olive growing in the country, points out that:
“The soil has become completely dry because rain has almost stopped since January.”
This man, who owns ten hectares of olive trees in the Alcalá la Real region in the south of the country, expresses his concern by saying:
“If we do not see any radical change in the coming weeks, we will be on the verge of facing a real disaster.”
Spread of pests and diseases
Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns resulting from climate change can increase the spread of pests and diseases that affect the olive tree, and can make trees more vulnerable to attacks from pests such as the olive fly and Xylella disease. This can lead to reduced olive production and oil quality.
Rapid decline disease, also known as Xylella , has spread to olive-growing areas in many Mediterranean countries. According to international reports, this disease is a threat to olives, grapes, citrus fruits, deciduous fruit trees, and ornamental plants. These reports indicate that the climatic conditions in some Countries are considered suitable for the reproduction and spread of Xylella bacteria, which increases the possibility of it turning into a dangerous epidemic.
Influence on oil quality
Climate change can also affect the quality of olive oil ; High temperatures and drought can lead to a reduction in the oil content of the fruits and an increase in the acidity of the oil, and this can negatively affect the quality and value of olive oil.
In Algeria , the agricultural landscape has not seen much change, and this is partly due to the decrease in rainfall and its changing distribution. Farmers in Algeria rely heavily on rain to irrigate their olive trees, and this has directly affected olive oil production.
For example, Algeria produced about 77 thousand tons of olive oil annually, which represents an estimated percentage of about 4% of the world’s production, which made it ranked ninth in the world in olive oil production.
However, Algerian virgin oil connoisseur and expert, Kasila Achour, points out that...
“Unfortunately, there are no specialized follow-ups in the field to monitor the impact of climate changes on agricultural production.”
He adds:
“Careful follow-up of the 2021 crop showed a significant decline in production, as the production rate fell to levels the country had never seen before, ranging from 8 to 13 liters per quintal at most, noting that normal production ranges between 15 and 18 liters.”
As for the cultivated varieties, all of them were affected by poor productivity , whether they were local such as “Achmalal” for the production of olive oil or “Sivoise” for edible olives, or foreign varieties such as “Arabkina”, which is one of the most cultivated varieties in Algeria to increase the percentage of oil produced from it. It represents between 17 and 20% of the crop, and Ashour adds that although most orchards depend on rainwater for irrigation, some orchards have recently moved to modern irrigation systems such as distillation to overcome water scarcity.
Measures to preserve the olive tree
- Controlling greenhouse gas emissions to limit rising temperatures.
- Irrigating the olive tree and improving water management practices to address changing rainfall patterns.
- Spray the olive tree and monitor and control pests and diseases effectively.
- Fertilizing the olive tree
- Encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices.
Climate change represents a major threat to the olive tree and the olive industry, and effective action is necessary to conserve this important plant and ensure the sustainability of olive oil production in the future.
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