Biodiversity Foundation AdaptCOliva Project: Adapting olive cultivation to climate change scenarios

The "Adaptation of Olive Cultivation to Climate Change Scenarios (AdaptCOliva)" project has developed a soil management protocol for olive groves that maximizes the development of the soil structure as a mechanism for adapting to climate change. Olive cultivation is key to the Spanish agricultural sector from an environmental, social, and economic perspective. This crop is susceptible to the effects of climate change, as this phenomenon can cause soil damage that leads to a reduction in the number of olive trees. Therefore, the project aims to delve deeper into the functioning of soil structure as a cornerstone of the physical, chemical, and biological properties responsible for the proper functioning of olive farms.

The initial hypothesis indicated that crops with higher soil carbon content will have better water reserves, as this will promote the formation of soil organo-mineral aggregates and nutrients, and will also prevent soil erosion. This will be achieved by improving the functionality of the soil microcosm, as evidenced by the dynamics of the different biogeochemical cycles. Numerous soil biology studies have been carried out to identify which system can be considered the most appropriate. To this end, intensive sampling and analysis were carried out in locations in the Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir basins in three different Autonomous Communities over a year, following a climatic gradient.