Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The olive tree is of great socio-economic and ecological importance in theMediterranean region. In several countries, namely in Portugal, olive production is asignificant land use, and so, the olive agro-ecosystem is an important reservoir forbiodiversity. During the last years we are assisting to a growing interest for organic olivegrove cultivation, to fulfil the requirements of consumers who are more and moreinterested in ecologically clean products due to health and environmental reasons as wellas the increasing concern for safe and quality food. In Portugal organic olive surface hassteadily increased in the last few years and from only 3 781 ha in 1994, it grew to 19 341ha in 2006. Almost all this surface (about 99.3%) was distributed by the districts of theinterior along the Spanish border (Trás-os-Montes, Beira Interior and Alentejo) whereclimatic conditions are suitable for the crop and pest and disease pressure is relativelylow. Moreover traditional farming practised in these regions approximates organicfarming methods, which eases conversion. The financial support provided by theEuropean Union under the agri-environmental measures for organic production throughthe Common Agricultural Policy, which largely have stimulated farmers' interest towardsorganic agriculture, have also expanded the development of scientific and technicalresearch regarding this type of crop management. In this chapter, results from organicolive research carried on during the last ten years in the northeast of Portugal will be discussed. Emphasis will be given on activities having as objective the enhancement ofsoil fertility through the application of composting of plant and animal materials, as wellas those focusing on arthropod pest management. Progresses attained and areas whichneed to be explored will be analyzed. © 2009 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
Description
Keywords
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Santos, Sónia A.P.; Cunha-Queda, Cristina; Gonçalves, Fátima; Pereira, José Alberto; Bento, Albino; Torres, Laura M. (2011). Organic olive growing in Northeastern Portugal: Present state and future prospects. In Organic Farming: Methods, Economics and Structure. p. 1-30. ISBN 9781606928646