Castillo de Canena will be the first Spanish olive grove to entrust pest control to beneficial insects

• The initiative, promoted by CITOLIVA, through its AGRO·LIVE Natural Allies service, will reduce the use of pesticides and strengthen the natural balance of the crop.

In the olive groves of Castillo de Canena, it won't just be technicians and tractors working anymore. Starting this season, insects will be working too. Small, discreet, and almost invisible, they will become the silent guardians of biodiversity and new allies of the crop, destined to keep pests at bay.

With this step, the historic olive oil company from Jaén once again positions itself at the forefront of the Spanish olive sector, becoming the first olive grove in the country to implement a biological control system based on beneficial insects. This strategic advancement, driven by CITOLIVA in partnership with Castillo de Canena, is realized through its pioneering service, AGRO·LIVE Natural Allies, designed to translate scientific knowledge into practical crop management.

With this approach, these beneficial insects will play a leading role in the olive grove. They will act as allies of the crop itself, with a goal as simple as it is ambitious: to control the main pests, reduce the use of pesticides, and promote a more vibrant and balanced olive grove by reinforcing its natural functioning.

Insect pest control for a gradual reduction of pesticides

For decades, the standard response to pests like cottony cushion scale or the olive fly has been the intensive use of pesticides. An effective short-term solution, but with well-known side effects: increased costs, the emergence of resistance, loss of biodiversity, and growing regulatory and social pressure to reduce their use. In this context, Castillo de Canena's decision to take this step by investing in AGRO·LIVE Natural Allies represents a declaration of leadership and a firm commitment to a new production model.

To make this possible, Citoliva will carry out field analysis and monitoring to understand how beneficial insect communities evolve and what role they play in maintaining the balance of the olive grove. Through entomological studies and continuous observation, the technology center will create the necessary conditions for beneficial insects to act effectively and sustainably against pests, keeping them below the economic damage threshold and reinforcing, with knowledge and planning, a control system that arises from the crop's own natural functioning.

“It’s not about eliminating treatments all at once, but about reducing dependence on them and making the system smarter,” explains Maria Dolores Jimenez, manager of Citoliva. Throughout the process, Citoliva’s technicians will analyze the presence and activity of these natural allies, conduct regular monitoring, and translate the data into practical management decisions, integrated into the farm’s routine operations.

Thanks to this approach, the AGRO·LIVE Natural Allies service, developed by Citoliva, will allow for a gradual reduction in insecticide use, resulting in cost savings and less time spent on treatments. It will also promote the production of olives and oils free of chemical residues, increasingly valued by consumers, while reinforcing the ecological balance of the olive grove and its capacity for self-regulation against pests.

With this pioneering approach, Castillo de Canena is turning its farms into a living laboratory of innovation applied to olive groves, demonstrating that biodiversity, when managed with knowledge and strategic vision, can become a real tool for competitiveness and sustainability.

About CITOLIVA

CITOLIVA, the Olive and Oil Technology Center, is a private, non-profit foundation created to implement innovative methodologies and technological systems that effectively address the demands and needs of the olive oil sector. CITOLIVA responds to these challenges, identified through years of professional experience, by professionalizing and introducing innovative and technological strategies to the olive and oil sector.