Two significant heatwaves resulted in “very strong heat stress” across large swatches of southern and western Europe, including the olive oil-producing countries of France, Portugal and Spain.

Copernicus reported that Portugal, the world’s sixth-largest olive oil producer, experienced “extreme heat stress” in June, with feels-like temperatures reaching 48 ºC. Meanwhile, neighboring Spain, the world’s largest producer, faced its hottest June in 64 years.

“June 2025 saw an exceptional heatwave impact large parts of western Europe, with much of the region experiencing very strong heat stress,” said Samantha Burgess, the strategic lead for climate at the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

“This heatwave was made more intense by record sea surface temperatures in the western Mediterranean,” she added. “In a warming world, heatwaves are likely to become more frequent, more intense and impact more people across Europe.”

According to data from Copernicus, Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with average temperatures rising at twice the global average. 

The service attributed faster warming in Europe to shifting weather patterns that bring more frequent heatwaves, reduced air pollution allowing more solar radiation to reach the surface and its proximity to the rapidly warming Arctic.

The current heatwaves have come at a delicate moment for olive growers in the three countries, which combined to produce an estimated 1.6 million metric tons in the 2024/25 crop year, accounting for 47 percent of total global production.

However, Juan Vilar, the chief executive of the Jaén-based olive oil consultancy Vilcon, said this year’s extreme temperatures have not impacted the olive groves as severely as the intensely hot and dry conditions in 2022 and 2023, which resulted in two historically low harvests.

“To be clear: heat does affect olive trees, but it usually doesn’t have much impact, except when it comes with wind,” Vilar said. “Despite the heat waves, I’ve been out visiting the olive groves, and so far I haven’t seen any serious effects.”

“Also, rainfall has been plentiful and the soil still retains some moisture,” he added. “So, while [the extreme temperatures are] not ideal, it hasn’t had a dramatic effect on the upcoming harvest yet. If this were combined with a series of other negative factors, it could have harmful consequences, but for now, that hasn’t happened.”

While noting that abundant winter rainfall has replenished aquifers and will enable irrigated olive groves — which account for 30 percent of the country’s total — to water as needed, Vilar warned that a prolonged summer of extreme heat could still reduce the harvest.

“After a certain point, the olive tree protects itself. To enter this self-defense mode, it drops the olives,” Vilar said. “This would lead to a lower national olive yield, which would have a negative impact on olive oil production.”

• Copernicus

The olive oil industry generates a substantial amount of wastewater, with estimates exceeding 30 billion liters per annum worldwide. 

This water is a potent and problematic pollutant, characterized by high salinity and electrical conductivity, as well as high acidity and large quantities of organic and phenolic compounds.

These characteristics make it harmful to soil microbes, aquatic life and long-term soil health. Phenolic compounds, in particular, contribute to the wastewater’s resistance to treatment, inhibiting microbial growth.

The vast majority of olive mill wastewater is currently disposed of in one of two ways. The first is via evaporation ponds, which lead to increased air pollution due to the release of harmful and acidic gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide, and both soil and groundwater contamination due to leaching.

The second is via its use as an organic fertilizer on agricultural land. However, there is also growing concern about this practice. 

Studies have shown that prolonged and repeated land application leads to the accumulation of phenolic compounds, salts and heavy metals in soils, reduced microbial diversity and activity, widespread impacts on wildlife and the eventual sterilization and desertification of land.

Several microbial organisms have been proposed as candidates for treating olive mill wastewater. Of these, the researchers believe that Yarrowia lipolytica stands out, not only due to its ability to thrive in nutrient-poor, acidic, phenolic-rich environments, but also because of the range of valuable substances it can produce.

Among other compounds, the yeast can synthesize lipases, important in sectors such as food processing, pharmaceuticals and biofuels; citric acid, used in industries as diverse as detergent manufacturing, electroplating and leather tanning; and polyols, including mannitol, erythritol and arabitol, which have applications in products such as low-calorie sweeteners and humectants.

The yeast also synthesizes single-cell oils, rich in oleic and linoleic acids, which are suitable for use as biodiesel or as nutritional supplements. 

By modulating culture conditions such as oxygen levels, pH and carbon source, production can be tailored to different end uses. The resulting lipid profiles can even mimic cocoa butter or serve as precursors for ricinoleic acid derivatives with diverse applications.

The research team emphasizes that these capabilities mean the process of wastewater treatment can contribute to the move towards a circular economy within the olive oil industry, a move supported not only by the scientific community but also by national and supranational government bodies, such as the European Union.

Despite its promise, the widespread deployment of Y. lipolytica for olive mill wastewater treatment and valorization faces several obstacles. 

Wastewater composition is highly variable, influenced by factors such as olive variety, extraction method and seasonal conditions, among others. This variability complicates process standardization and performance.

In addition, compounds, particularly phenolics and salts, can reduce microbial activity or product yields. While some strains tolerate these conditions, others require dilution, pre-treatment or supplementation to maintain efficiency.

Economic factors also pose barriers. Although Y. lipolytica can grow in non-sterile, low-cost media, large-scale operations require systems with high-energy stages, downstream processing and market access for bio-based products.

However, the researchers believe that with sufficient research focused on key areas, the yeast represents an economically viable way to unlock the potential of olive mill wastewater whilst safely removing it from the environment. 

They point to proof-of-concept studies and a considerable body of existing literature to support this view.

• Environmental Science and Pollution Research
• Journal of Analytical Sciences and Applied Biotechnology

With cement production being a major contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions, the research aims to reduce the environmental impacts of the industry.

Published in a special issue of the journal Materials, the study assesses how combining pomace ash affects the physical, mechanical and durability properties of mortar to determine its suitability for large-scale use.

Olive pomace ash is derived from incinerated olive pomace (residual olive skins, pulp and pits). When ground, the resulting powder contains significant amounts of carbon dioxide, silica and lime. 

Compared to ordinary Portland cement, its lighter weight and finer particle size influence mortar characteristics such as density and workability (the ease with which mortar can be mixed, placed and compacted).

Mortar samples were created by substituting Portland cement with pomace ash in ten percent increments up to 50 percent. 

Each mix underwent tests for flowability (the ability of the mix to flow and spread into place when poured), strength, water absorption, and resistance to freeze–thaw cycles over periods of seven, 28, and 90 days.

The researchers found that the workability and flowability of the mortar decreased as pomace ash levels increased. 

At levels of up to ten percent, mortar samples exhibited minimal changes in both wet bulk density and flow time, indicating their suitability for practical applications.

Between ten and 20 percent, the mixtures became harder to work with, but maintained acceptable flow. Beyond 20 percent, flow rates were drastically affected.

Both compressive and flexural strength tests yielded similar results, with pomace levels of up to 20 percent exhibiting reduced strength, but remaining within the acceptable range for structural mortars. 

The researchers noted that strength continued to increase over 90 days, consistent with the activity of pozzolanic reactions—the chemical processes by which certain materials, such as ashes, react with water and cement to form binding compounds that enhance the strength and durability of concrete over time.

Freeze-thaw resistance tests further confirmed the 20 percent limit for pomace ash levels. Beyond this threshold, mixtures exhibited substantial vulnerability.

Water absorption, which can lead to durability-related damage and performance degradation, increased in samples with pomace ash levels above ten percent. 

All samples exhibited a maximum absorption of 6.92 percent, which is well within the ten to 15 percent range deemed acceptable for adequate long-term performance.

Interestingly, the ten percent mixture showed slightly lower absorption than the ordinary Portland cement control mixture. This was attributed to the fine ash particles filling voids and otherwise refining the mixture’s pore structure.

An environmental analysis compared the energy usage and carbon dioxide emissions of pomace ash mortar production to those of the control mix, which is made entirely of ordinary Portland cement. 

Carbon dioxide emissions were calculated based on electricity generation in Algeria, where the study was conducted.

Production of the control mix consumed 1,000 kilowatt-hours per ton (kWh/t) and emitted 500 kilograms of carbon dioxide per ton (kg CO2/ton). 

In contrast, production of the ten percent pomace ash mix consumed 953.5 kWh/t and produced 476.75 kg CO2/t, while that of the 20 percent mix consumed 907 kWh/t and produced 453.5 kg CO2/t.

The authors conclude that the ten and 20 percent mixtures are associated with a meaningful decrease in environmental impact while maintaining acceptable mechanical performance, supporting their candidacy as environmentally friendly construction materials. 

They believe, however, that further study is needed to examine the long-term durability, microstructural behavior and performance in real-world settings. 

They also note that broader adoption would require such materials to be incorporated into updated building codes and specifications.

Previous research has shown such treatments to be beneficial against certain pest insects, but none have examined their effects on oil yield or quality.

The study, published in the journal Horticulturae, reports the results of field experiments conducted in Lakonia, Greece, during the 2021 cultivation season. 

Koroneiki, the most common olive cultivar used for oil production in Greece, was chosen, and trees under both rain-fed and irrigated conditions were studied. 

Before the trial, preliminary experiments were conducted in Crete and Sterea Ellada prefectures using the Megaritiki cultivar, in addition to Koroneiki.

The trees studied were selected based on uniform growth and similar expected yields, and were free from visible symptoms of nutrient deficiencies, pest infestations, or disease infections. 

All trees were 30 years old, open-vase trained, and planted in a 7‑meter by 7‑meter grid, managed following standard local practices (fertilization, pruning, pesticide application, etc.), which were applied uniformly to all trees.

During the trial period, the maximum temperatures in July, August, and September were 40 °C, 43 °C, and 36 °C, respectively. 

In recent years, several Mediterranean countries have experienced drastic reductions in their olive oil production, with yields as low as 50 percent of the standard. 

Despite olive trees’ natural resilience, extreme heat, high solar irradiation and prolonged drought, especially during flowering and fruit development, can have a significant impact on tree health and productivity.

Trees from both groups were sprayed with mineral clays using particle film technology in either July or August. 

The clays utilized were kaolin, talc and attapulgite. Kaolin clay has previously been trialed in the protection of pomegranate fruit from extreme heat and solar irradiation in southern Spain with some success.

Under irrigated conditions, the application of talc increased oil production per tree by approximately 22 percent, kaolin by 17 percent and attapulgite by five percent compared to untreated trees. 

In rain-fed conditions, where trees face greater environmental stresses, talc applied in July resulted in the highest increase in oil yield, at 80 percent. Attapulgite, applied in August, increased oil production by 57 percent, while kaolin, applied in July, increased it by more than 50 percent. These gains were attributed to the clays’ reflective and water-conserving properties, which help maintain leaf hydration and reduce canopy temperature.

In addition to yield, oil quality was analyzed. Ultraviolet absorbance indices, such as K232 and K270, which reflect primary and secondary oxidation, improved with all three clay treatments, particularly talc and kaolin. 

Talc and kaolin also increased phenolic content under both irrigation conditions, though the effects were negligible under irrigated conditions, with the sole exception of tyrosol. Tyrosol concentration was significantly affected, being higher in oils from trees treated with talc in July.

This aligns with previous research highlighting the role of heat and water stress in stimulating the synthesis of antioxidant compounds in olive trees. Under rain-fed conditions, the concentrations of nearly all detected phenolic compounds (oleocanthal, oleacein, tyrosol, luteolin and apigenin) were significantly influenced by the treatments.

Analysis of fatty acid composition revealed that oils from treated trees had a higher proportion of oleic acid and monounsaturated fatty acids, particularly under rain-fed conditions. 

The authors note that lower canopy temperatures may preserve enzymatic activities involved in oil biosynthesis, mitigating the conversion of oleic to linoleic acid under heat stress. This has previously been hypothesized to account for differences in oil composition between warm and cool climates.

Climatic stresses affect every stage of olive development, from bud differentiation and flowering to fruit growth and ripening. 

Reduced chilling hours can disrupt floral bud development, while extreme summer heat may lower oil content and alter fatty acid profiles. 

The authors note that by increasing the trees’ resilience to harsh summer conditions, the following year’s production is also positively affected due to improved floral induction, fruit development and new shoot growth.

While concluding that clay particle application is an effective tool, the authors caution that multiple factors influence the degree of improvement achieved. 

These factors include, among others, the timing of application, soil conditions and management practices, such as irrigation. 

They believe that further research is needed to tailor the technique to the local conditions and cultivars of target regions, and to integrate such treatments with other measures that could enhance resilience.

“I believe the next steps should be the combined application of mineral clays with other alleviating products with different mode[s] of action,” lead author Petros Roussos told the Olive Oil Times. 

“Furthermore, further research is needed to find the exact time and which mineral clay fits better under certain conditions in each cultivar, since we saw that different cultivars respond differently to these clay materials while irrigated groves [also respond differently] to rainfed ones,” he added.

Roussos also believes that while independent research is vital, governments can do more to address climate threats to the olive industry. 

“There are many ways to help the industry adapt to climate change,” he said. “First of all, education and information [about] what the industry can do – easy, cheap, affordable and effective methods – to adopt them.”

“Then take measures on specific aims,” Roussos concluded. “This means funding specific areas of research, such as the evaluation of indigenous olive cultivars under climate change scenarios, adapting cultural methods to alleviate stress impacts, etc.”

• Encyclopedia

The plots, located in Estepa, Andalusia, comprised 440 hectares of olive groves with varying management practices.

C‑Olivar is an operational group based in Andalusia comprising regional and national government agencies, the University of Jaén, the agricultural professionals’ organization ASAJA-Sevilla, the Estepa Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) regulatory body, and Evenor-Tech, a technology company specializing in land management and environmental protection.

The primary objective of the project is to increase the amount of carbon stored by olive groves. To achieve this, the group is tasked with devising a methodology for calculating carbon credits for olive growers, creating a voluntary carbon credit market for the sector, increasing the adoption of olive cultivation practices that favor carbon sequestration and developing technology to assist farmers and technicians in this endeavor.

The analysis evaluated the carbon stored in the permanent structures of the olive trees and in the soil, revealing sequestration ranges of between 0.6 and 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare per annum for trees. 

In six of the 15 plots, additional sequestration of 0.36 to 2.1 tons per hectare was observed in the soil, while in the remaining nine plots, a loss of soil carbon was recorded.

In those plots for which a soil carbon loss was reported, differences in management practices were primarily deemed responsible. These included sparse or absent ground cover and the lack of organic soil conditioning techniques.

Previous research has shown that traditionally managed olive groves store significantly more carbon, and that both ground cover and organic soil conditioning are major contributing factors.

“The application of organic fertilizers and facilitating temporary spontaneous cover crops achieve a positive carbon balance and reduce the negative impacts of olive cultivation,” said Lázuli Fernández from the University of Jaén.

“[Traditional olive groves] allow 5.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent to be removed from the atmosphere for each kilogram of [unpackaged] oil produced,” she added. “In the case of irrigated cultivation, this value drops to 4.3, and the intensive method allows capturing up to 2.7 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent for one kilogram of oil.”

In five of the nine plots for which a soil carbon loss was reported, the carbon accumulated in the trees balanced the loss from the soil. In the remaining four, a net carbon emission was recorded. This again was attributed to management practices.

There are approximately 11.7 million hectares of land dedicated to olive cultivation worldwide, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Portugal. 

If the results from the C‑Olivar analysis were found to be representative, including those plots with a net emission, this would equate to approximately 10.96 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent sequestered per annum.

In their press release, however, the Seville chapter of the Association of Young Farmers and Ranchers (ASAJA-Sevilla) emphasized the need to improve farming practices to increase carbon sequestration, a key project goal. 

If the highest figures from the plots in the study area were replicated, this would raise the global olive grove carbon storage to approximately 55 million tons per year.

“From the Estepa PDO, we continue to work steadfastly to obtain rigorous data that highlight the essential role played by our olive groves as a carbon sink and their ability to mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Moisés Caballero, secretary-general of the Estepa PDO.

“This research is another example of the environmental potential of olive cultivation and encourages us to continue our commitment to a sustainable agricultural model that is committed to the future of the planet,” he concluded.

• ASAJA Seville

The WMO forecasts that annual average global surface temperatures for each year between 2025 and 2029 may rise between 1.2°C and 1.9°C above the average from 1850 to 1900.

The report further anticipated that there is an 80 percent chance that one of the next five years will surpass 2024 as the hottest year on record, and an 86 percent chance that at least one year will exceed 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level.

Scientists from Copernicus, the Earth observation unit of the European Union’s space program, confirmed in January that average global surface temperatures reached 1.6ºC above pre-industrial levels in 2024.

Climate scientists have warned that multiple tipping points are likely to be triggered by 1.5°C of warming, including the collapse of ice sheets, changes to ocean currents, biodiversity loss, and the melting of permafrost. 

“These very latest predictions suggest we are very close now to having 1.5ºC years commonplace,” said Adam Scaife, the head of long-range forecasting at the Met Office, the United Kingdom’s national weather and climate service.

“We’ve had one in 2024, but they’re increasing in frequency, and we are going to see more of these,” he added. “These are shocking statistics, and there is even a chance now, and it’s the first time we’ve ever seen such an event in our computer predictions, of a 2ºC year, which would be completely unprecedented.”

The WMO warned that every degree of warming fuels heatwaves, torrential rainfall events, intense droughts, the melting of ice and glaciers, ocean heating and rising sea levels.

Heatwaves in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia in May 2022 and 2023 were mostly responsible for back-to-back historically poor harvests in the world’s most prolific olive oil-producing region, contributing to record-high olive oil prices of the previous few years.

The WMO further anticipated that the Arctic, which reached a record-high temperature of 38 ºC in 2020, would warm three and a half times faster than the global average over the next five years, accompanied by significant sea ice melt in adjacent seas. 

A separate report published in April by the Copernicus Climate Change Service found that Europe is warming at a faster rate than the global average. 

“This report highlights that Europe is the fastest-warming continent and is experiencing serious impacts from extreme weather and climate change,” WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said.

The WMO also forecasted increased summer precipitation in some regions, including the Sahel, northern Europe, Alaska and northern Siberia, along with drier conditions in the Amazon basin.

“We have just experienced the ten warmest years on record,” said Ko Barrett, the WMO deputy secretary-general. “Unfortunately, this WMO report provides no sign of respite over the coming years, and this means that there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet,” 

“Continued climate monitoring and prediction is essential to provide decision-makers with science-based tools and information to help us adapt,” she added.

The study, published in Fermentation, builds on research presented in 2022 at the XVII Argentine Congress of General Microbiology.

The strain in question, Rhodococcus sp. 24CO, efficiently converts various carbon sources to neutral lipids, especially triacylglycerols, accumulating up to 47 percent of its biomass as the dietary lipid. 

Microbial triacylglycerol synthesis has received significant attention recently due to its potential for producing sustainable high-value products from waste materials. Such products include biofuels, detergents, fertilizers, cosmetics and pharmaceutical components.

Rhodococcus sp. 24CO, was isolated from the leaves of Frantoio cultivars on the eastern coast of southern Patagonia. Many Rhodococcus species are known for their capacity for mitigating persistent and dangerous pollution such as pesticides, herbicides and radioactive material, as well as their ability to convert cheap substrate into more valuable compounds.

To assess the strain’s properties and capabilities, the researchers subjected it to various tests.

When cultured, 24CO could grow on four of the 50 carbon sources tested, including fructose, mannitol, sorbitol and arabitol. The first two, naturally present in olive leaves, led to triacylglycerol accumulations of up to 47 percent and 28 percent of cellular dry weight, respectively.

High neutral lipid production from mannitol also occurred in nitrogen, which the authors believe to be previously unreported behavior and industrially relevant since it implies that the strain would produce a high biomass and, simultaneously, high quantities of triacylglycerols.

Chemical analysis of fresh and dewatered leaf extracts of olive pruning waste revealed high carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, indicating its suitability for lipid production. 

Further cultures supported this, yielding more than 20 percent of cell dry weight as neutral lipids with the dewatered infusion and eight percent with the fresh infusion. Triacylglycerols produced with the former resembled those from mannitol cultivation.

In addition, both cultures detected small amounts of polyhydroxybutyrate, a polymer of interest for biodegradable plastic production. Genome analysis of Rhodococcus sp. 24CO confirmed its potential for synthesizing these polymers.

Analysis further revealed significant genetic differences between 24CO and Rhodococcus sp. RHA1, one of the best-studied members of the genus. 24CO lacked several genes linked to redox and nitrogen metabolism present in RHA1, which are typically activated under lipid-producing conditions. The absence of these genes did not appear to hinder 24CO’s lipid accumulation, suggesting alternative regulatory mechanisms.

Although 24CO was found to possess fewer wax ester enzymes than RHA1, its lipid yields were equal to or superior to those of the former. This suggests that the enzymes responsible for triacylglycerol biosynthesis in this strain may be more efficient. Kennedy pathway enzymes were fully present, however, and had high redundancy.

After assessing suitable environmental conditions for the species, the researchers concluded that it could survive and reproduce between 4 °C and 30 °C, with an optimal temperature of 28 °C. 

Salinity and pH experiments showed that it could tolerate up to five percent weight per volume of sodium chloride with a pH value from six to ten, or slightly acidic to basic. 

The authors also note that leaf surfaces in Patagonia represent a harsh environment, subject to high ultraviolet radiation, low nutrient levels and desiccation.

Although many initiatives aimed at reducing and reusing olive waste are underway, most olive pruning waste is still burned. 

In Spain alone, approximately 1.25 million metric tons of leaves are generated from pruning annually. The researchers believe that Rhodococcus sp. 24CO is a viable candidate for transforming this enormous biomass into sustainable and valuable products, primarily via triacylglycerol biosynthesis.

• Conicet
• Microbiology

The corrective package on the CAP comes after widespread demonstrations by farmers across Europe last year. They protested high production costs, reduced subsidies and the E.U.’s free-trade agreement with Mercosur. 

The proposed changes will be submitted for approval to the European Parliament and European Council, where they are expected to pass in time for the new Common Agricultural Policy, which will come into force in 2027.

Many of the changes are geared at improving the financial state of Europe’s small farms, such as doubling the annual lump-sum payment to €2,500, adding a one-time lump sum payment of €50,000 to improve competitiveness and new crisis payments for extreme weather events and diseases.

Katia Merten-Letz, a partner at Food Law Science and Partners, told Food Navigator that the measures are necessary to address the growing gap between small farmers and large agribusinesses, but will not “change the farmers’ world.”

The proposal also gives member states greater flexibility to adapt how they implement the CAP in their national strategic plans, exempts small farmers from some environmental rules and allows certified organic farms to automatically meet environmental requirements.

The European Commission further encouraged national governments to develop interoperable digital systems so farmers only need to submit data once. 

“We are bringing back pragmatism in the Common Agricultural Policy,” said Christophe Hansen, commissioner for agriculture and food. “Our proposals today strike a balance between the need to have a policy fit for the realities on the ground while safeguarding a certain stability for all agricultural stakeholders.

“The Commission is on farmers’ side, and we are doing our best to cut the bureaucracy so they can focus on what they do best; producing food for all of us while protecting our natural resources,” he added. “I am confident that these measures will deliver concrete results on the ground. I call on co-legislators to adopt this proposal by the end of the year so changes can already reach farmers in 2026.”

Reaction to the announcement has been mixed. Copa and Coegca, the influential unions of European farmers and agri-cooperatives, welcomed the proposal as a common-sense simplification measure and way to enhance European competitiveness.

However, the European Environmental Bureau warned that some of the commission’s proposed measures may unnecessarily remove environmental protections.

“Without sufficient impact assessment or real public consultation, the European Commission has yet again casually done away with nature and climate protections in Europe’s largest budget, the Common Agricultural Policy,” said Théo Paquet, the bureau’s senior policy officer.

“Such short–sighted decisions will not only hinder farm resilience due to the many benefits provided by healthy ecosystems, but also bring the legitimacy of the CAP into question as it strays further from its environmental and climate objectives,” he concluded.

• Food Navigator
• Coop News

The initiative, part of the Andalusian government’s energy transition policy, would involve cutting down about 500,000 centuries-old trees in the provinces of Jaén and Córdoba.

While Andalusian president Juan Manuel Moreno said regional officials would plant 1.5 million new trees across 2,500 hectares, activists and researchers said this figure would cover less than six percent of the carbon dioxide sequestered by the centenarian trees annually.

Research from the Aquae Foundation shows that young olive trees sequester 10 to 30 kilograms of carbon dioxide annually. Separate data from the University of Jaén estimates that centenarian trees absorb about 570 kilograms of carbon dioxide yearly.

As a result, activists from SOS Rural and Campiña Norte Against Solar Megaplants, the groups that collected the signatures, estimated that the government would need to plant almost 30 million new trees to offset the emissions that these trees would no longer absorb.

The protest comes after Campiña Norte Against Solar Megaplants filed a criminal complaint against Greenalia and FRV Arroyadas, two companies developing solar plants, in January. The case is proceeding through the courts.

“It’s contradictory to talk about decarbonization while destroying centuries-old trees, which are the largest natural carbon sinks we have,” Natalia Corbalán, national spokesperson for SOS Rural, told local media.

Campaigners also highlighted the social impact of replacing the olive groves with solar plants, including the loss of traditional jobs harvesting the trees without any obvious replacements.

Campaigners in Lopera allege that a new solar plant covering about 425 hectares would require the removal of 42,000 olive trees.

A report by the La Loperana cooperative estimated that this would result in the loss of about two million kilograms of olives each harvest, which could produce about 400,000 liters of olive oil.

The cooperative calculated that it would lose about €3.1 million in wages and olive oil sales, representing about 25 percent of Lopera’s economy.

The campaigners also alleged that some landowners were forced to lease in unfavorable conditions because the government labeled the projects as public utilities, which allowed them to pursue expropriation proceedings against holdouts.

However, Jorge Paradela, the regional government’s minister of industry, energy and mines, called campaigners’ claims “mistaken and distorted.”

He told Canal Sur Radio that the expansion of renewable energy in Jaén has not come at the expense of the expansion of olive growing.

“In the province of Jaén, there are 4,000 more hectares of olive groves today than there were five years ago,” he said.

Paradela also disputed the campaigners’ estimate about the number of trees removed in the Lópera to make way for the solar plant, indicating it would be closer to 13,000.

• Diario de Seville
• Oleorevista

Researchers from the Sapienza University of Rome and the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development identified pectin-derived oligogalacturonides with a degree of polymerization between ten and 17 in the olive mill wastewater.

Oligogalacturonides trigger a plant’s immune system via the cell wall, activating defence responses and resistance against some pathogens. The molecules had not previously been separated from olive mill wastewater.

Using transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings, the researchers confirmed that the extracted oligogalacturonides triggered the expected defense responses, including increased calcium ions, which are intracellular messengers critical in plant defense signaling pathways. 

The study is part of researchers’ ongoing efforts to add value to olive oil production byproducts, especially olive mill wastewater. An estimated 30 billion liters of wastewater are produced annually by olive mills in the Mediterranean basin.

While olive pomace byproducts are considered easy to recycle, they are widely used in the food industry, producing olive pomace oil and renewable energy. Olive mill wastewater presents more challenges.

The wastewater is highly acidic with high concentrations of recalcitrant chemical substances, including lignins and tannins, which require significant amounts of oxygen to biodegrade.

Therefore, olive mill wastewater is considered a significant environmental pollutant, with most countries prohibiting it from being dumped without being treated.

“On the other hand, olive mill wastewater contains a wide range of valuable phenolic compounds with proven antimicrobial properties (e.g., flavonoids, hydroxytryrosol, oleuropein) and olive mill wastewater by-products are effective as biopesticides against different microbial pathogens,” the researchers wrote.

“However, the effect of this liquid waste as a plant elicitor of defense responses has not yet been investigated,” they added.

Using tangential-flow membrane filtration, the researchers separated the oligogalacturonides from the olive mill wastewater.

“Tangential-flow membrane filtration is a powerful tool in bioprocessing, allowing the separation and concentration of active biomolecules into specific molecular pools, such as proteins, sugars and secondary metabolites,” the researchers wrote. 

“By using complex mixtures for filtration, tangential-flow membrane filtration effectively removes impurities while retaining the desired molecules,” they added.

The researchers highlighted how the method does not require a chemical solvent and is scalable from a laboratory setting, allowing large-scale olive mills to employ it. They added that the findings could provide a new source of revenue for olive oil producers. 

Oligogalacturonides have been approved in commercial plant protection products recognized by the European Union, which has set a target to reduce synthetic pesticide use by 50 percent by 2030.

According to market research from Industry Research Reports, the global biopesticide market was valued at $6.1 (€5.6) billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach $11.5 (€10.1) billion by 2030. 

“The oligogalacturonide-enriched fraction, described in the present work, is suitable to be employed as a novel bio-pesticide, contributing to enhance both environmental and economic sustainability of the olive oil industry,” the researchers wrote. 

“We pave the way for field experiments with plants of agronomic interest for exploitation of these by-products as sustainable natural phyto-protectants in the control of pathogens causing devastating diseases of economically important crops according to a circular economy perspective in agriculture,” they added.

“In the first 24 hours after the application window opened, we received submissions from more than ten countries, covering over 1,000 hectares and all planting systems,” said Juan Antonio Polo Palomino, head of the IOC’s Olive Oil Technology and Environment Department.

The project aims to assess olive groves as natural carbon sinks.

“The Carbon Balance project is key to showcasing the sustainability of our sector,” added Lhassane Sikaoui, head of the IOC’s Olive Growing, Olive Oil Technology and Environment Unit.

As the initiative progresses, farmers will be able to increase their incomes by selling carbon credits on voluntary markets.

Carbon credits for olive groves are an emerging opportunity in sustainable agriculture.

Olive trees naturally absorb and store carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, and healthy soils—especially those managed using regenerative practices—can amplify this effect.

According to the IOC, olive groves’ carbon dioxide storage capacity is both stable and long-lasting.

“Until recently, agriculture was seen solely as a greenhouse gas emitter,” the IOC said, referencing the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. “However, the 2023 IPCC report recognized its potential to absorb carbon dioxide, creating new financial opportunities for sectors like olive growing.” 

By quantifying the amount of carbon an olive grove removes from the atmosphere, farmers can generate carbon credits that can be sold to companies seeking to offset their emissions.

This system provides an additional income stream and promotes more sustainable land management. However, a clear legal framework supported by robust certification and verification platforms is essential to make this system work.

“During the pilot phase, participants will be able to calculate the carbon balance of their olive grove using a free online tool, receive technical assistance, and provide feedback,” Polo Palomino explained.

“This will help us validate the tool’s usability and make any necessary improvements based on participants’ input,” he added.

Once all registrations are in, the project’s scientific team will design a broad sample to reflect different cultivation areas, olive grove types, management practices, and climate conditions.

To participate, farmers and cooperatives must provide data on their agricultural practices, such as fuel use and fertilizer applications.

“Our goal is to make the tool user-friendly, so we designed a simple interface using data that farmers already manage daily,” Polo Palomino said. “For instance, those who keep a field notebook will already have nearly all the required data.”

Participation in the pilot phase is completely free. This includes the training session and online technical support provided by the IOC.

“Once validated and released, the tool will be freely accessible to any user worldwide,” Polo Palomino said.

The IOC’s carbon balance calculator is based on the IPCC’s 2019 General Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

“We adapted it to the specific characteristics of olive trees, drawing on the best available scientific knowledge and tested models to ensure maximum robustness,” Polo Palomino said.

“We also built on the IOC’s previous work, including the 2018 report on the global CO2 capture potential of olive groves and the first version of the calculator published in 2012,” he added.

Once the carbon balance is calculated, the Verra VM0042 v2.1 standard is applied to generate carbon credits.

Verra is one of the leading organizations certifying carbon credits, and VM0042 specifically focuses on improved agricultural land management.

Version 2.1 outlines how to measure, monitor, and verify carbon sequestration to ensure scientific and technical validity.

The process complies with European Union Regulation 2024/3012, establishing certification guidelines for carbon removals within the E.U.

The pilot phase includes a technical training session in June. “The session will explain in detail the flow of a voluntary carbon credit project, the criteria used in this methodology, and the tool itself through practical examples,” Polo Palomino said.

“We aim to ensure that participants can begin working with the tool right after the session,” he added.

The next phase is expected to launch in November.

“In November, once the tool is validated and results verified, we plan to release a free and accessible method that allows any olive grower, regardless of size, type, location, or management system, to calculate their carbon balance and generate voluntary carbon credits aligned with current and upcoming standards, especially the E.U.’s CRCF (Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming) framework,” Polo Palomino said.

The IOC’s ambitions go beyond offering a groundbreaking tool to the olive sector.

“Our goal is to ensure society recognizes olive groves as agro-ecosystems that, in addition to producing the best vegetable fat known to humanity, extra virgin olive oil, also provide ecosystem services that benefit human well-being, such as helping combat climate change and contributing to planetary health,” Polo Palomino said.

“In short, everyone should understand that consuming extra virgin olive oil is good for both their health and the planet,” he added.

According to the IOC, this project will make a real contribution to addressing climate change. “We begin from scientific evidence: olive groves, domesticated by agriculture, now cover 11 million hectares, mostly in the Mediterranean region,” Polo Palomino said.

“Through certain agricultural practices, we can optimize their function, improving their net CO2 balance and contributing to the U.N. goal of climate neutrality by 2050.”

Expectations around the market potential of voluntary carbon credits have grown since the latest IPCC report and the introduction of new EU regulations.

Still, the IOC urges cautious optimism. 

“These expectations are still risky, as regulatory processes are ongoing at both the standard and market levels,” Polo Palomino said. “At the IOC, we’re working hard to deliver a scientifically sound system that meets the needs of our sector.”

“The project’s first phase focuses on developing an easy-to-use carbon balance calculator for all olive sector stakeholders,” Sikaoui concluded. “As the pilot phase moves forward, we invite all operators to join in and help strengthen this vital initiative.”

The “Action Plan for the Circular Bioeconomy in the Agri-Food Value Chain 2025–2030” is intended to serve as a roadmap for transitioning Andalusia’s agri-food sector into a sustainable, circular and bio-based economy. 

Grounded in European policy and regional legislative frameworks, it focuses on scaling biomass resource use, boosting rural economies and enhancing food system sustainability.

“The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the interdependence of global value chains and the need to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more digital and resilient economic and industrial model,” the Andalusian government wrote. 

“The repercussions of the war in Ukraine on energy and food markets have led the European Union to seek alternatives and diversify its sources of supply,” it added. “The transition to cleaner energy, driven by the need to combat climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, is also one of the initiatives led by the E.U., which translates into encouraging investment in green and sustainable technologies.”

The plan places significant emphasis on the olive sector, recognizing its economic, cultural and environmental importance to the region. 

Integrating Strategic Objective 6 of the “Andalusian Strategy for the Olive Sector,” approved in February, the plan’s measures include promoting the “bio-based value chain” of olive products, supporting projects that develop new uses for olive-derived residues, such as the Oleacirc project, and fostering a culture of sustainability within the sector.

The Oleacirc project focuses on the business development of successful initiatives in the field of olive byproduct exploitation. Its goal is to improve the sector’s environmental and economic sustainability by identifying feasible business models and scaling up successful technical approaches.

Other projects supported by the plan include GASOLIVE, which focuses on the potential of gasification technologies to convert olive residues into energy and organic fertilizers, and the ORULAND project, which complements it by aiming to reduce waste and emissions from olive oil production processes.

All three projects aim to help olive producers comply with environmental regulations while turning waste streams into profitable resources. As government-led initiatives, the results obtained will also be used to support official decision-making, both at the business and policy implementation levels, to improve the sustainability of the Andalusian olive oil sector.

One of the highlighted objectives of the plan is to stimulate the olive sector’s overall participation in the value chain. This involves facilitating collaborations between olive oil producers and industrial entities that can process subproducts into energy, fertilizers or materials. 

This measure is designed to shift the sector from a linear production model to one in which waste becomes input, thus multiplying the economic impact of the olive industry while reducing its environmental impact.

Another priority is promoting new projects that leverage circular practices. These include the development of new technologies for separating, processing and converting olive waste into commercially viable products. 

This is to be supported by incentives for pilot initiatives, technological adoption and the commercialization of bio-based outputs.

Incentivizing the adoption of more sustainable practices is seen as key to the plan’s success. “One of the mechanisms is to take advantage of innovation opportunities and new opportunities for complementary sources of income,” the Andalusian government wrote.

The plan also includes specific communication and public engagement measures aimed at raising awareness within the olive sector about the opportunities of a circular bioeconomy. 

These measures involve creating tailored communication strategies and educational materials to encourage participation, disseminating successful case studies and integrating sustainability into the sector’s culture and business ethos.

The plan also proposes establishing a regional platform to connect actors across the olive value chain and increase cohesion among producers, processors, researchers, investors, and policymakers. 

A large number of government departments and working groups are already formally linked in this regard. Still, the strategy aims to dramatically increase participation from the private sector, as well as public-private partnerships.

The research, published in the Journal of the Entomological Research Society, also found that the compound did not affect Cheiropachus quadrum, the parasitic wasp, which is the beetle’s primary natural predator and an essential biological control.

Olive bark beetles are parasitic insects that can directly affect olive productivity. They spend the winter in their adult state, sheltering in small galleries dug into the joints of leaves, fruits or small branches. 

Shortly after pruning takes place in the spring, they move towards the partially-healed wounds, where the males burrow beneath the bark, constructing a cavity known as the “nuptial chamber.” After mating in this chamber, the females create a gallery that branches off to the left and right, in which they deposit an average of 50 to 100 eggs.

When hatched, the larvae feed on the wood, creating extensive galleries by burrowing perpendicular to the original cavity until pupation. 

The new generation of adults emerges after 40 to 60 days, generally between the end of May and July. These adults then move to nearby olive groves to feed and then overwinter until the cycle begins again the following spring.

The feeding galleries of the adults cause the most serious commercial damage. This feeding activity partially or completely engulfs the branch or twig, weakening its structure and damaging vascular tissues, which causes leaves, fruit and productive twigs to fall.

Trees that are affected over multiple seasons can also exhibit retarded development due to the recurring disruption of natural growth patterns. This subsequently affects productivity and commercial viability.

Generally, where the infestation is limited, pruning and subsequent burning of the infested branches are sufficient to eliminate the problem. However, weakened trees, such as those affected by drought, that are severely attacked by the larvae have a lower chance of recovery and may even die.

In cases where live adults are present on more than ten percent of shoots, insecticide use is indicated. 

Artificial insecticides, such as pyrethroids, however, have proven to be far less effective against the adult olive bark beetle than against its larvae. 

In addition, there is growing alarm over their lethal effects on non-target organisms, such as bees and other key species.

To assess the susceptibility of both the larval and adult stages of the beetle to garlic distillate, the researchers conducted a series of laboratory bioassays. 

The distillate in question primarily comprised diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, methylallyl trisulfide and vinyldithiin (1,2‑dithiin and 1,3‑dithiin) molecules, several of which have seen individual success in previous insecticidal trials.

The highest lethal concentration value of garlic distillate was estimated at 3.45 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for larvae and at 4.41 mg/L for adults. 

The application of a dose of 8.19 mg/L achieved 100 percent mortality in both life stages. The mortality rate of adults treated with the artificial alternative was significantly lower than that caused by garlic distillate at 7, 14 and 21 days after treatment.

The effects on Cheiropachus quadrum, a parasitic wasp, were also evaluated.

Hymenopteran parasitoids are among the most important natural enemies of bark beetles worldwide, and C. quadrum is the primary predator of the olive bark beetle, capable of reducing populations by 30 to 50 percent.

The researchers found that, unlike pyrethroid-based insecticides, the garlic distillate being studied had no significant effect on the adult wasp, nor on its ability to parasitize beetle larvae and reproduce, thus further increasing its suitability as an eco-friendly bio-pesticide candidate.

• Junta de Andalucía
• Plantix

According to a newly proposed bill, the government would acknowledge the work done by growers whose primary occupations lie elsewhere but still maintain and care for their olive orchards.

The olive oil produced from these groves is almost entirely used for self-consumption or shared within the grower’s close circle of family and friends.

The idea is to encourage growers to adopt sustainable practices and to help them recover and restore abandoned groves.

According to the National Agency for Services to the Agricultural Market (Ismea), at least three million families across the country are involved in self-production.

While there are no official figures on the quantities produced, it is estimated that between 30 and 37 percent of Italian olive oil production is destined for self-consumption.

“We are talking about small or medium-sized groves, which represent a secondary activity for many. Still, it is very important,” Alberto Bozza, regional councilor in Veneto and one of the promoters of the new bill, told Olive Oil Times.

“Their work is non-professional, but they take care of the environment, safeguard the land, promote biodiversity and help control pests such as the olive fruit fly,” he added.

Most of these olive groves have been passed down through generations. Over time, however, the amount of work required to maintain them, combined with low yields and challenging climate conditions, has contributed to their abandonment.

This trend is widespread, particularly in hilly and mountainous areas.

“An abandoned olive grove harms the landscape and increases the risk of hydrogeological instability and wildfires,” Bozza said.

Such changes to the landscape are considered among the causes of the decline in Italy’s overall olive oil production capacity.

“The idea is to combat abandonment by recognizing new roles, including that of olive growers who are neither farmers nor agricultural entrepreneurs,” the proposed bill states. “These new roles should be considered guardians of the national olive-growing heritage.”

Last year, a new national law was introduced designating professional farmers and agricultural cooperatives as environmental custodians.

Olive cultivation in Italy covers approximately 1.1 million hectares, with nearly 620,000 producers and more than 4,300 olive oil mills.

In the last three years, the difficulties of remaining profitable have led more than 26,500 companies to cease operations.

“Even in this scenario, Italian olive oil is still considered the highest-quality product available worldwide,” Bozza said.

According to the bill’s promoters, the superior quality of Italian olive oil depends on the country’s wide variety of olive tree cultivars, unique climate conditions and traditional production processes.

However, many family growers are not eligible for public support and have limited access to technological innovations despite contributing to Italy’s olive biodiversity.

Current laws exempt self-producing growers from the strict regulations applied to professional producers, including requirements for traceability and the registration of production volumes in the National Agricultural Information System (SIAN).

Growers are classified as non-professional as long as their annual olive oil production does not exceed 350 kilograms, and their product is not sold.

“In this context, a crucial step is to have a clear picture of the situation,” Bozza said, stressing the lack of reliable official data.

For this reason, Bozza and his colleagues are also promoting a regional bill calling for creating a public Olive Observatory in Veneto. “This is a critical step that other Italian regions could easily adopt,” he said.

According to Bozza, the observatory would allow the region to examine, verify and monitor the condition of its olive-growing areas. The goal is to carry out a precise census to classify all olive-growing lands and assess the health of each cultivated area.

“This census will help regional institutions evaluate how to support non-professional growers,” Bozza added, suggesting that additional resources could be made available through regional, national and European programs.

Several associations in the farming and olive sectors have already expressed support for the new legislation.

According to Tommaso Loiodice, president of the National Union of Olive Oil Producers (Unapol), the bill should be supported to help prevent the abandonment of olive groves.

“However, it is important not to confuse this type of olive growing, which I would call hobbyist and which in most cases produces oil for family consumption, with commercial olive growing that supplies the market,” Loiodice said.

“In my view, the proposed law should encourage cooperation and aggregation among these small producers, with a long-term vision aimed at creating more structured and profitable businesses,” he added.

Bozza hopes the approval of the observatory will come from the Veneto regional council by this summer.

“As for the national bill, it will be assigned to the relevant parliamentary committee,” he said. “At that point, I will work to raise awareness among national parliament members, especially those on the agricultural committees, to try to speed up the process if they believe the proposal aligns with national agricultural policy priorities.”

• l’Olivo News

According to an analysis by the Financial Times, Walmart, one of the largest olive oil retailers in the U.S., removed a section from its website where the company said it was “deeply committed to addressing climate change.”

Before it was revised in December, Walmart called climate change “one of the greatest challenges of our time.” 

Now, the company downplays mention of climate change but continues to say it is “focused on reducing emissions in our operations [and] engaging suppliers to reduce emissions in supply chains.”

Apple, Kraft Heinz, American Airlines, Meta, Ford and Coca-Cola are among the other U.S.-based companies to follow suit alongside Swiss multinational Nestlé.

The speed with which companies have sought to downplay their climate commitments contrasts starkly with the first Trump administration. 

After Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords for the first time, Walmart was one of more than 4,000 businesses that joined the America Is Still In coalition. The coalition’s members committed to reducing U.S. emissions by 50 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. 

The coalition sought to reconfirm its members’ commitment after the new Trump administration pulled out of the Paris Climate Accords again. Walmart was among the companies that did not re-commit to the effort.

However, other United States-based olive oil bottlers and producers have not wavered in climate change or sustainability commitments.

In February, Baltimore-based olive oil bottler and retailer Pompeian, another America Is Still In coalition signatory, announced its products would bear The Carbon Trust verification label.

“At Pompeian, we’re working to reduce our carbon emissions and to communicate our sustainability credentials transparently,” the company wrote on LinkedIn. “By participating in the Carbon Trust program, we reaffirm our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, and how we implement sustainable practices at every stage of our olive oil production.”

California Olive Ranch, the U.S.’s largest olive oil producer and an America Is Still In member, has also advanced its sustainability initiatives. 

The company recently announced it would be the first U.S. producer to label its products with the A Greener World sustainability certification.

“ For us, it was really about the land and the farming,” said Mary Mori, COR’s vice president of quality and product. “We wanted to go beyond just a sustainable certification and be regenerative.”

She told Olive Oil Times that COR selected AGW from various sustainability certification firms because it aligned with the company’s goals and permits non-organic farming practices.

Mori said COR has followed regenerative farming practices for the past four years. However, conforming with the AGW certification has caused them to focus on reimplementing biodiversity in their groves and shifting to sustainable power and fuels.

According to its 2024 impact report, COR started planting 11 miles (17 kilometers) of hedgerows with native shrubs and trees to help improve biodiversity and sequester an additional 115 metric tons of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas equivalent (CO2e).

Overall, the company said it sequestered 1.3 kilograms of CO2e more than it emitted for each liter of olive oil produced.

While Mori is unsure what economic impact the certification will have on the company’s olive oil sales, she anticipated that regenerative farming would lower some production costs in the long term, including reducing the reliance on fertilizers and phytosanitary products.

“Our big focus has been more on just doing the right thing for the soil, and eventually, you’re spending less because you’re giving back to the ground what it needs,” Mori said.

COR’s impact report highlighted how following regenerative practices, including grazing 3,000 sheep in the groves, applying more than eight million pounds (3.6 million kilograms) of compost annually and planting cover crops across its groves allowed the company to reduce synthetic fertilizer use by seven percent in 2023.

“We are going be working with our grower partners to get them certified over the next few years and using our template of what we’ve done,” Mori added.

The more significant challenge will be converting the company’s harvesters and tractors to electric vehicles and installing more solar power for its olive oil mill to meet the green energy requirements. Already, COR said one-third of its mill’s energy requirements are met with solar energy. 

Mori said that COR will continue to improve sustainability through its precision agriculture programs, which include using satellites to collect data from the olive groves.

The company is currently involved in two separate research programs to collect data from its olive groves, which it will later use to make agronomic and harvesting decisions on a block-by-block basis.

 ”Using technology to help you make smarter, quicker and cheaper decisions is the push, especially as the costs of farming keep going up,” Mori said. 

• FT
• E&E News

In a last-minute decision, the United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP16) finalized a long-anticipated strategy for mobilizing and allocating global funds to combat biodiversity loss.

Additionally, COP16 endorsed strengthened mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting and reviewing the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), established during COP15.

The GBF is seen as a pivotal framework that lends structure and impact to global biodiversity conservation efforts.

Its primary goal is to curb biodiversity loss by safeguarding at least 30 percent of the world’s land and marine areas by 2030.

The GBF aims to expand natural ecosystems by 2050, properly acknowledge biodiversity’s critical role in sustainable development, facilitate genetic resource sharing and knowledge to enhance biodiversity and increase funding for the least developed countries, transforming biodiversity conservation into a key development opportunity.

Simultaneously, COP16 sanctioned the creation of the Cali Fund, designed to guarantee the fair and equitable distribution of benefits derived from digital sequence information on genetic resources.

The fund is named after Cali, Colombia, where the inaugural COP16 session occurred in November.

The Rome conference also granted indigenous peoples permanent seats, allowing them to voice their perspectives directly at future biodiversity COPs.

Colombian environment minister and COP16 president Susana Muhammad hailed the agreement as “historic,” emphasizing that “we have given legs, arms and muscle to the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework.”

Jessika Roswall, the European Union’s commissioner for the environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy, said the agreement “secured a global roadmap to support financing for biodiversity beyond 2030.”

“The results of this meeting demonstrate that multilateralism works and serves as the vehicle to forge the partnerships needed to protect biodiversity and advance peace with nature,” added Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of COP16.

She further noted that the world is on the verge of equipping itself with “the means to close the biodiversity finance gap.”

Wealthier nations’ active participation in global biodiversity efforts remains a critical challenge for COP16. The conference’s first session in Cali ended without an agreement.

Although an agreement was reached in Rome, the question of funding remains unresolved. Major economies such as China and the United States did not participate.

Moreover, none of the financial commitments discussed at the conference are legally binding. However, the agreement outlines a $200 (€183) billion fund to support global biodiversity efforts, financed by governments and private entities.

“More than any other issue, the successful implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework will depend on whether the world meets its financing targets,” said Brian O’Donnell, director of advocacy group Campaign for Nature.

The GBFF, the fund designated to support GBF implementation, currently holds $382 (€350) million, far short of the billions pledged at the Conference.

Only a handful of countries contribute to the GBFF, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Norway, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, France, Austria and Luxembourg.

Bolivian delegate Juan Carlos Alurralde Tejada told The Guardian that uncertainty about who is willing to pay and how the funds will be distributed is draining the global effort.

“Biodiversity cannot wait for a bureaucratic process that lasts for ever, while the environmental crisis continues to get worse,” he said. “Forests are burning, rivers are in agony and animals are disappearing.”

• Convention for Biological Diversity
• The Guardian

According to the Turkish researchers who authored the study, these new materials could become a viable alternative to plastics in food packaging.

The researchers developed a simple and effective method to produce oleofilms, bringing the materials one step closer to competing with current industry standards.

“Conventional plastic films are durable for a long time and ensure reliability during transportation and storage,” Bülent Başyiğit, a researcher at the Harran University’s faculty of engineering in Şanlıurfa, Turkey, told Olive Oil Times.

“Some of their other advantages include being low cost, lightweight, easy to process and having advanced barrier properties,” he added. “However, petroleum-derived conventional plastic films do not biodegrade and remain in nature for a long time.”

“Moreover, harmful chemicals found in the natural structure of the conventional plastic films might leak into the packaged food products or beverages,” Başyiğit noted.

Based on biodegradable and edible oil polymers, oleofilms may have a significant edge over plastics.

“Their most notable features are that they decompose quickly in nature and thus do not cause serious environmental pollution,” Başyiğit said. “Oleofilms reduce carbon footprint by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.”

Typically, plastic films are made from synthetic polymers derived from fossil fuels, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

In addition, producing such plastic films is a highly energy-intensive process, yet economies of scale have made it significantly cost-effective, unlike most other industrial sectors.

Oleofilms’ key advantages over other biodegradable films are their elasticity and flexibility. They are also far more stable when subjected to extreme temperature changes.

According to the researchers, the chemical structure of oleofilms significantly reduces the risk of chemical leakage into food or drinks.

Oleofilms do not dissolve or break down easily when exposed to moisture, and water does not easily pass through them. “Oleofilms are water-resistant, and their water permeability is low,” Başyiğit confirmed.

“Oleofilms may serve as promising systems for providing protection, particularly for oily and moist food products, since they consist of films made from hydrophobic and oil-based components,” he said.

“These films can prolong the shelf life of foods by preventing oxidation, reducing moisture loss and forming a waterproof barrier,” he added.

Some foods easily packaged with oleofilms include chocolate-based products, cheeses, processed meats and crackers.

In addition, they prove to be highly effective in protecting fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables.

“One primary reason for structural deterioration in fruits and vegetables is water removal from their structures,” Başyiğit said. “Given the hydrophobic nature of oleofilms, they are expected to maintain the moisture balance within the package.”

“Thus, these film models may help prevent shrinkage and hardening by reducing water loss in all fruits and vegetables,” he added. “Natural oils, such as olive oil, possess antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties that help slow food spoilage by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi.”

Extra virgin olive oil is a key component of the oleofilm production method developed by the research team, which has proven more efficient than other biodegradable oils.

“Olive oil provides antioxidative activity to the final product due to the unique structures it contains,” Başyiğit said, hinting at the presence of tocopherols (vitamin E) and phenolic compounds in extra virgin olive oil.

“Their presence in olive oil is crucial for preventing or delaying potential oxidation in films,” he added. “Preventing or delaying oxidative deterioration enhances the lifespan of packaging films.”

Extra virgin olive oil was identified as more efficient than other oils due to its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic acid, which offers enhanced protection against oxidation compared to polyunsaturated fatty acids.

“Oils rich in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids can lead to the hardening or softening of oleofilms,” Başyiğit said. The balanced unsaturated fat content of extra virgin olive oil makes it a more efficient choice.

Phenols and tocopherols in olive oil reduce oxidative damage, a quality that can be extended by oleofilms coating.

“Incorporating extra virgin olive oil in oleofilms may enhance the antioxidant properties of the final products,” Başyiğit said. “Moreover, antioxidant compounds may protect by diffusing through the film into the food.”

“Films containing olive oil can extend shelf life, preserve nutritional quality and prevent oxidative deterioration by increasing the antioxidant capacity of both the film material and the coated product,” he added.

The presence of extra virgin olive oil in oleofilms further enhances their biodegradability.

“Oleic acid, phenolic compounds and tocopherols in olive oil can enhance biodegradation,” Başyiğit said. “Phenolic compounds can facilitate degradation by increasing enzymatic reactions for microorganisms.”

The olive oil-based oleofilms were produced by combining proteins and lipids using ultrasonic emulsification techniques. The process uses high-frequency sound waves to create and stabilize emulsions, mixtures of two unmixable liquids.

The production began with the preparation of oleogels, which contain soy protein hydrolysate, gelatin, extra virgin olive oil, stearic acid and lecithin.

The protein and lipid phases were mixed in a one-to-one ratio and subjected to high-power sonication, which agitates particles in a fluid through high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound).

This process enhanced the stability and homogeneity of the emulsion. Once the oleogels were formed, they were combined with glycerol to improve flexibility.

After an ultrasonic degassing process to eliminate air bubbles, the mixture was left to dry at room temperature for 24 hours.

The resulting oleofilms, with thicknesses between 0.18 and 0.25 millimeters, proved water-resistant with low gas permeability, meaning that oxygen, carbon dioxide, or water vapor could not easily cross the barrier.

The method identified the necessary ultrasonic power for optimal flexibility, strength and barrier properties, which were successfully tested on freshly cut pineapples.

“In films containing hydrophilic and hydrophobic structures, ultrasonic emulsification is a vital technique that improves film quality by fostering homogeneity,” Başyiğit explained. “It prevents phase separation and enables the creation of mechanically robust and functional films that maintain stability over prolonged periods.”

Researchers warned that more investment and research are needed to support the further development of oleofilms and turn them into a commercially viable alternative to conventional plastic-based films.

The researchers added that significant challenges still need to be addressed.

Oleofilms are more susceptible to tearing than the current industry standard and cannot yet compete in mechanical strength and flexibility. Vacuum packaging is currently not feasible with these new films either.

“Although mass production of plastics is well established and their costs remain very low, oleofilms have yet to achieve economies of scale,” Başyiğit said. “In the long term, if these challenges are overcome, oleofilms could serve as an environmentally friendly alternative.”

The next step for the researchers is to scale up its use in food packaging and explore other possible applications.

“In the long term, the integration of oleofilms into biomedical applications is also possible,” Başyiğit said. “In this context, they might be used in applications like drug delivery systems and wound dressings.”

“However, it is crucial to conduct studies to enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of oleofilms to match those of petroleum-derived films,” he concluded.

The supplement, sold commercially as Momast Plus 30 Bio (MP30B), is enriched with hydroxytyrosol, one of olive oil’s primary polyphenols, using a patented technique to extract the compound from olive mill wastewater.

Bioenutra, the company that manufactures MP30B, was not involved in the study.

Previous studies have found that the supplement exerts anti-inflammatory effects and removes reactive oxygen, which mitigated heart infections in in vivo studies.

In ex vivo studies, MP30B was also found to decrease the stiffness of the thoracic artery, which is thought to precede increased blood pressure.

The research also demonstrated that MP30B did not significantly alter the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively or impact the blood vessel function and health, known as cardiac and vascular parameters, in ex vivo studies.

“Based on these findings, we posit MP30B as a promising extract for cardiovascular disease prevention, and its specific antibacterial properties suggest its utility in preventing cardiac infections,” the researchers wrote.

Along with the promising health results from the study, the researchers said finding new uses for olive oil production byproducts helps increase the sustainability of the production process and substitutes a cost for millers with an additional revenue stream.

An estimated 30 million cubic meters of olive mill wastewater are produced yearly in the Mediterranean basin. Due to its high content of phenolic compounds, this wastewater must be treated before disposal.

“Olive mill wastewater poses an important waste management problem since the lack of conventional treatment can counteract its high toxicity,” the researchers wrote. “However, phenolic compounds in the wastewater represent an opportunity to ‘upcycle’ this waste to obtain high-added-value products.”

Their study, conducted on guinea pigs, found that Momast Plus 30 Bio inhibited the ability of enzymes to synthesize nitric oxide, a free radical, the overproduction of which can promote inflammation and oxidative stress.

“Our results suggest that MP30B can also interfere with inflammatory processes affecting the cardiovascular system by counteracting the deleterious effects caused by uncontrolled nitric oxide biosynthesis,” the researchers wrote.

They also found hydroxytyrosol’s antibacterial properties in MP30B, especially against infective endocarditis, a bacterial or fungal heart infection with a relatively high in-hospital mortality rate.

“Streptococci are among the most frequent causes of infective endocarditis,” the researchers wrote. “MP30B has actions on all types of streptococci tested.”

“Comparing the results of MP30B with those obtained using the reference antibiotic levofloxacin on Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC or FL, it is observed that MP30B is more potent both as a bactericidal and as a bacteriostatic on Streptococci FL; contrary to what was observed for levofloxacin whose actions are more significant in ATCC bacteria,” they added.

The researchers concluded that the hydroxytyrosol-enriched dietary supplement demonstrated potential as a food supplement to prevent cardiovascular diseases and suggested that further research should investigate its impact on breast cancer.

“Studies on the cardiotoxic effects of anti-tumor therapies demonstrate the protective action of hydroxytyrosol in breast cancer cardiotoxicity, increasing the potential applications of MP30B,” they wrote.

“President Trump will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord,” the White House wrote in an email listing the administration’s new policy priorities within 30 minutes of his swearing-in, the Financial Times reports.

The announcement comes days after the World Meteorological Organization confirmed 2024 was the hottest year on record, exceeding the pre-industrial global average temperature by 1.55 ºC.

The signatories of the Paris Agreement initially committed to reducing carbon emissions to keep global temperatures within 2 ºC of the pre-Industria average.

During his first term, Trump pulled the United States out of the 2015 deal signed by almost 200 countries. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., reversed this decision after his 2020 election victory.

“President Trump made the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement because of the unfair economic burden imposed on American workers, businesses and taxpayers by U.S. pledges made under the agreement,” then‑U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in 2019, explaining the decision.

While U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.5 percent during the first Trump administration – largely attributable to widespread stay-at-home orders at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic – $2 (€1.77) billion pledged to help developing countries mitigate climate change impacts was canceled.

It took three years from Trump’s 2017 announcement to formalize his departure from the agreement. However, in the intervening time, he sent negotiators to United Nations climate talks to promote fossil fuels. He stopped funding the Clean Power Plan, International Climate Change Program and Cooperation on Climate Change Research.

This time, the U.S. will leave the agreement one year after the Trump administration sends a letter announcing its departure. It remains unclear whether the administration has already done this.

Despite Trump’s rhetoric and policies, the U.S. met its first nationally determined contribution target under the Paris Agreement: a 17 percent reduction of 2005 greenhouse gas levels by 2020.

However, meeting the updated goal of reducing 2005 greenhouse gas levels by 61 percent by 2030, announced by Biden in December, will be far more challenging, requiring emissions to fall by at least 3.13 billion metric tons from their 2023 levels.

While many scientists, activists and Democrats have reacted to the news with dismay, others believe the private sector will continue to invest in renewable energy and climate-friendly technology.

Laurence Tubiana, the European Climate Foundation’s chief executive who worked closely on the Paris Agreement, told AP News that the planned U.S. withdrawal is unfortunate. Still, the context is different this time around.

“There is unstoppable economic momentum behind the global transition, which the U.S. has gained from and led but now risks forfeiting,” he said.

Kaveh Guilanpour, the vice president of international strategies at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, was less optimistic.

He told HuffPost that the decision was “deeply regrettable” and once again isolated the U.S. outside the international consensus.

“There is no sugar-coating this — it will be harmful to global efforts to combat climate change, and so ultimately, also harmful to the future prosperity and security of U.S. citizens,” Guilanpour said.

• New York Times
• Our World in Data
• Advances in Climate Change Research

According to Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, David R. Montgomery emphasizes the stark contrast between sustainable agriculture and conventional farming practices.

Montgomery argues that adopting sustainable agricultural practices is crucial for soil’s long-term health and human societies’ survival.

He argues that humanity can ensure a more resilient and productive future for agriculture by learning from the mistakes of past civilizations and embracing more sustainable methods.

Amir Kassam, a visiting professor at the University of Reading’s School of Agriculture, policy and Development and a United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization global forum member, advocates for transitioning to more sustainable farming practices.

“The European Union has inherited a form of industrialized synthesized farming that has become the
prevailing agricultural norm, augmented by tillage and agrochemical technology, which is
detrimental to soil health, useful insect populations and biodiversity,” he told Olive Oil Times.

“This model operates on a simplistic input-output basis; increased inputs should yield greater outputs,” Kassam added. “However, this approach is detrimental to soil and landscape health.”

He noted that conventional agriculture can adversely affect soil health in various ways.

Intensive tillage and monocropping practices frequently result in soil erosion, whereby the topsoil is either washed or blown away. This diminishes the soil’s fertility and capacity to retain water and nutrients.

The dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides in conventional farming depletes the soil’s organic matter, essential for sustaining soil structure, fertility and microbial activity.

Furthermore, heavy machinery can cause soil compaction, which reduces porosity and impedes root penetration, consequently hindering water infiltration and drainage.

The accumulation of harmful chemicals from synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides can disrupt microbial communities and diminish soil biodiversity.

Additionally, an over-reliance on chemical fertilizers may result in nutrient imbalances within the soil, leading to deficiencies or toxicities that adversely affect plant growth and soil health.

“The concept can be likened to an input-output model, wherein it is assumed that an increase in inputs results in a corresponding increase in outputs,” Kassam said. “However, this incremental approach, along with intensive tillage has become problematic, particularly concerning soil health.”

“Modern agricultural practices have ceased prioritizing critical inquiries, such as the overarching objectives of farming systems for the farmers, community and the environment,” he added. “The focus has shifted away from sustainability and has become solely centered on yields and profitability, paying little attention to environmental consequences and sustainability.”

Kassam warned that this shift has led to agricultural land degradation and topsoil erosion. He added that the situation has become increasingly severe as the size of agricultural machinery increases, leading to dust storms in the United States and Europe.

“A deeper understanding of sustainable agricultural practices is essential for promoting conservation-oriented regenerative agriculture,” he said. “The fundamental principle of conservation agriculture is to minimize soil disturbance by avoiding tillage, cover the soil with biomass mulch and diversify the cropping system, thereby protecting the ecosystem and the diverse useful organisms that inhabit it.”

“It is crucial to maintain soil cover with biomass mulch to approximate natural conditions as closely as possible,” Kassam added. “Additionally, the cycling of organic matter is vital, as the mulch safeguards the soil surface from the impacts of storms, rainfall and wind while also providing nourishment for soil organisms and increases soil organic matter and plant nutrients.”

He argues that by adopting more sustainable practices, it is possible to mitigate these detrimental effects.

Among these practices is mulching, which Kassam said is an excellent source of crop nutrients. These nutrients are essential to maintaining biodiversity and creating natural habitats for pest predators.

While olive trees are well-known for their ability to thrive in marginal soils, olive farmers have noticed the negative impact of land degradation on their trees.

“Farmers, including olive farmers, are seeing a degradation of the land because of tillage and
poor management of soil health and crop diversity, resulting in declining yields,” Kassam said. “In recent decades, many farmers have transitioned from conventional tillage practices to
conservation agriculture in annual and perennial systems, including and organic systems.”

“Additionally, farmers in the olive sector are compromising soil health by engaging in practices that disrupt the soil health through regular tillage,” he added.

Christiane Wassman, the co-owner of the award-winning producer Rastrello in Umbria, said she and her family have successfully revitalized several century-old olive oil trees on their farm by implementing sustainable practices, particularly mulch.

Mulching is vital in water conservation, particularly in olive farming within regions susceptible to drought.

Techniques such as drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to the roots of olive trees, can significantly decrease water consumption while ensuring that the trees receive sufficient hydration. Furthermore, applying mulch around the base of the trees helps retain soil moisture and minimize evaporation.

“Drip irrigation is particularly effective in sustainable agricultural practices,” Wassman said. “This method preserves soil integrity and enhances moisture retention, even during rainfall.”

“Without such practices, it is estimated that up to 70 percent of moisture may be lost due to runoff, as water fails to penetrate the soil effectively,” she added. “Therefore, it is crucial to maximize rainwater infiltration and retention. Immediate sealing and mulching after plowing further contribute to these objectives.”

According to Juan Vilar, a strategic consultant for the olive oil sector, irrigation has become an urgent need in Spain.

“Although around 30 to 35 percent of Spanish olive groves have irrigation, 65 percent do not,” he said. “They do not have the infrastructure for irrigation.”

Vilar added that during the country’s historic drought, virtually no olive groves were irrigated as large cities in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia implemented water restrictions.

“Things will become more difficult in the summer, especially if there is insufficient rain in the spring,” he said.

Sustainable agricultural practices within the olive oil sector are increasingly gaining traction.

One such practice is conservation tillage, which minimizes soil disturbance and helps preserve soil structure and organic matter.

This method reduces erosion and enhances water retention, ensuring olive trees have access to nutrients and moisture for optimal growth.

Another significant practice is crop rotation, which involves alternating olive trees with other crops to mitigate the accumulation of pests and diseases.

This approach also improves soil fertility by allowing various plants to enrich the soil.

“In Andalusia, approximately 40 percent of agricultural practices in olive farming are already aligned with sustainable farming management based on conservation agriculture,” Kassam said. “Additionally, the implementation of drip irrigation techniques complements conservation agriculture, demonstrating effective synergy in sustainable agricultural practices.”

“Conservation agriculture systems and their associated practices significantly contribute to the enhancement of productivity, economic viability, environmental sustainability and social performance within the olive production sector in the arid and semi-arid Mediterranean regions of southern Europe, North Africa and West Asia,” he added. “These practices have revitalized the olive production industry, bolstered resilience, improved soil and land productivity potential, and mitigated land degradation.”

• ArcGIS
• Haryana Agricultural University
• International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research