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H2OLIVETREE Operational Group: Comprehensive management of olive grove effluents through selective separation in the plant and application in olive groves

  • Type Operational group
  • Status In progress
  • Execution 2022 -2024
  • Assigned Budget 299.882,00 €
  • Scope Autonómico
  • Autonomous community Andalucía
  • Main source of financing PEPAC 2023-2027
  • Project website GO H2OlLIVETREE
Abstract
The project will enable the olive sector to benefit from the resulting knowledge and techniques for harnessing saline water from the table olive dressing industry for drip irrigation of olive groves currently under dry land, increasing their productivity and reducing the environmental risks associated with the storage of large quantities of industrial wastewater. This will contribute to the AEI's objectives of boosting productivity in the agricultural sector and sustainable resource management.

These areas for improvement can greatly benefit from the progress made in recent years in the digitalization of the Andalusian agroindustry in other areas of activity, which will contribute to its modernization.

Description

The importance of olive groves, especially in regions like Andalusia, is paramount as a backbone, shaping the landscape, providing economic and social support, and regulating the region's environmental conditions. Andalusia is currently the leading producer of both table and olives. In the case of table olives, the Serranía Suroeste Sevillana region is one of the leading producers.

However, it generates a large volume of effluent, which poses a threat to water quality. To address this threat, an operational group was formed that achieved promising results on the viability of irrigation with effluent from the olive groves. Although the initial experience was encouraging, several critical points were observed, as the medium- and long-term results for the soil and the crop are unknown. This is something to study in this new project, as well as to consolidate the image and convey the results to farmers.

Description of activities
  • Documentation phase. Meeting between partners to coordinate and manage the project, gather preliminary information, develop a dissemination plan, and develop prototypes.
  • Field/experimental phase. Installation of the effluent control system in plants and smart irrigation in experimental plots. Monitoring and analysis of soil and plant variables.
  • Report writing phase. Technical, administrative, and project coordination supervision. Drafting of the partial and final project report.
  • Dissemination phase. Dissemination and promotion of the project's results/objectives
Objectives

This new project aims to develop a comprehensive effluent management system for olive vines through automated selective separation in the industry and subsequent intelligent application in the field to improve the productivity, sustainability, and energy efficiency of this agro-industrial system in a climate change scenario.

Contact information
  • Coordinator/entity name: ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE INTEGRAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTHWESTERN SEVILLE MOUNTAINS
  • Postal address: Calle Carrera, 1. 41620. Marchena, Seville
  • Coordinator/entity email: serrania@serraniasuroeste.org
  • Telephone: 955847064
Coordinators
  • ASOCIACIÓN DE MUNICIPIOS PARA EL DESARROLLO RURAL INTEGRAL DE LA SERRANÍA SUROESTE SEVILLANA
Collaborators
  • UNIVERSIDAD DE CÓRDOBA (ir1peala@uco.es)
  • COOPERATIVA AGRARIA OLEAND, S. COOP. AND. (nborrego@oleand.es)
  • SOCIEDAD COOPERATIVA ANDALUZA AGRARIA LABRADORES DE LA CAMPIÑA (gerente.labradoresdelacampina@arahal.net
  • AYUNTAMIENTO DE ARAHAL (f.rosado@arahal.org
  • ASOCIACIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE MUNICIPIOS DEL OLIVO (secretaria@aemo.es)
Beneficiaries
  • ASOCIACIÓN DE MUNICIPIOS PARA EL DESARROLLO RURAL INTEGRAL DE LA SERRANÍA SUROESTE SEVILLANA