AGROCLIM-OLIVE Operational Group: Evaluation of new olive varieties adapted to more sustainable super-intensive systems in a context of low application of copper fungicides

Both the proposed improvement actions and the operation of the AgroClim-Olive project itself promote the following aspects:

• Sectoral impact. Global olive oil consumption is increasing due to its heart-health benefits. Spain, and specifically Andalusia, are world leaders in both traditional olive growing and super-intensive cultivation (FAOSTAT, 2019). Currently, there is a process of genetic erosion in the olive tree due to the trend toward using a limited number of highly productive varieties adapted to hedgerow cultivation. These high-density crops face significant problems of abiotic stress (soil salinization) and biotic stress (diseases particularly aggressive under the specific conditions described, anthracnose and canker), which are aggravated by the reduction in fungicide use that has been established in recent years. In this context, the results of this project would have an impact not only on production, but also on more sustainable production.
• Induced investment. The development of this project may involve other investments, such as creating an experimental hedgerow plantation under commercial production conditions to study, in this and future projects, the adaptation of genotypes to the conditions described. We are aware that, given the project's duration, it is impossible to collect data on oil production and quality, but the plantation we will carry out in section 1.2.3 will provide results of enormous interest to the sector.
• Job creation: This project will require the addition of technical personnel for its proper execution, as described in the budget breakdown.
• Environmental impact The improvement of the environmental impact of this project lies in the study and development of new sustainable (resistance inducers) and environmentally friendly treatments.