Introduction Herbicides are essential tools in modern agriculture, but their unintended impact on pollination is a growing concern. Recent research by Dummer et al. (2025) has revealed that glyphosate and 2,4-D, two commonly used herbicides, can severely impair olive pollen germination, raising serious questions about their effects on fruit set and overall productivity in olive…
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Gas Gun Comparison: Guardian Gas Gun vs. Vinetech Bird Scare Electronic Gun
When selecting a gas-powered bird scarer, two notable options are the Guardian Gas Gun and the Vinetech Bird Scare Electronic Gun. Both are designed to protect crops from avian pests, but they differ in operation, features, and coverage.
A Technical Overview For Optimising Extra Virgin Olive Oil Quality Through Decanter Settings
In the highly competitive world of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) production, achieving the perfect balance between oil yield and quality is critical. Quality of EVOO is also directly influenced by the decanter centrifuge settings during the extraction process. Key parameters, such as the differential speed between the drum and screw (referred to as Dn)…
Solutions for Entry-Level Olive Oil Extraction: How to Get Started
When it comes to olive oil extraction, the thought of owning your own machine for under $10,000 might seem like the dream addition to your olive tree journey, especially for hobbyists. However, producing a high-quality olive oil at a low price is impractical due to the complexity of the extraction process and the technical requirements…
Enhancing Extra Virgin Olive Oil Quality Through Densimetric Sorting
During the recent research conducted by a team from DAGRI, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy, a novel approach to post-harvest handling of olives was assessed: densimetric sorting (sorting olives by density). This technique could allow producers to control the quality of extra virgin…
IOC Mario Solinas Quality Award 2024 Heads South: A Special Edition for Southern Hemisphere Olive Oils
The prestigious Mario Solinas Quality Award is an annual accolade bestowed upon the finest extra virgin olive oils by the International Olive Council (IOC) and is set to venture into new territory in 2024. This year, the competition will journey to Uruguay, marking a special edition exclusively dedicated to oils originating from the Southern Hemisphere….
Revolutionising Olive Variety Identification: AI Tool from GEN4OLIVE Spanish Project
An AI tool has been developed to identify olive varieties from images of olive pits, known as ‘OliVaR’. The neural network was trained using an extensive database of olive fruit endocarps (olive pits), compiled by partners of the GEN4OLIVE European project. With contributions from five germplasm banks across different countries and advancements in AI technology,…
Assessing the Compatibility of Direct Alperujo Application with Soil Quality Protection
In Spain and other Mediterranean countries, the olive tree reigns supreme, producing not only world-renowned olive oil but also significant quantities of semi-solid olive mill waste are generated. The mill waste is often referred to as alperujo in Spanish. As a circular economy fertilisation and soil protection strategy, the direct application of alperujo to agricultural…
Understanding Fruit and Flower Abortion/Drop in Fruit Trees: Causes and Remedies
During the 5th International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Biosystem, Researchers in Iran assessed various techniques for producers to consider reasons why fruit and flower losses occur. Here we delve into the presentation and look at the causes and potential remedies for avoiding flower and fruit losses. The cultivation of fruit trees holds immense economic…
Olive Oil’s Dizzying Rally to Last Another Year, EU says
In accordance with pricing trends observed in the olive oil sector according to Bloomberg, the European Commission projected on Monday that the surging olive oil prices in Europe will persist for another season, compelling consumers to make cutbacks in their consumption of this cherished staple. The ongoing season, which commenced this month, is anticipated to…
Sydney’s Olive Odyssey: A Celebration of Flavor, Expertise and Unity by the International Olive Council
Sydney, Australia October 20th: In recent days, a delegation from the International Olive Council arrived in Sydney, consisting of Maria Juarez, Head of Promotion and Economic Affairs, Dr Imene Trabelsi Trigui, Head of Promotion, and Dr. Wenceslao Moreda, Principal Scientist and IOC expert. Their visit aimed to present and showcase a series of hosting events…
Secoiridoids Found to Enhance Oxidative Stability and Shelf Life of ‘Corbella’ Extra Virgin Olive Oil
In view of pushing the limits on olive oil quality a breakthrough for the olive oil industry has been revealed through a recent study which has shed a new light on how certain compounds, specifically secoiridoids, can significantly enhance the oxidative stability and shelf life of ‘Corbella’ Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). The collaborative Spanish…
Amanda Bailey on Olives by The Olive Centre 