Olive oil under threat
Aside from tasting great, consuming olive oil brings a host of well-documented health benefits. However, the health and production of olives around the world are taking big punches from climate change.
Expected production in 2024 is expected to be one million tons less than in 2022, thanks to extreme draught and heatwaves. Though well-suited for dry climates, trees will protect themselves by producing fewer olives when repeatedly denied adequate water.
The Mediterranean basin, where 90% of the world's olive oil comes from, is warming 20% faster than the global average, forcing producers and scientists to find creative solutions. In addition to alternative and more effective irrigation systems, genetic testing is used to learn which tree species are best adapted to higher temperatures. Juan Antonio Polo of the International Olive Council says the goal is to find "varieties that need fewer hours of cold in winter and that are more resistant to stress caused by lack of water at certain key times" of the year.
For the sake of the world's olive farmers, I'm hopeful the efforts to improve the situation will be successful.
You can learn more here:
https://phys.org/news/2024-06-stress-olive-oil-climate.html
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Slipstream
Olive oil is the go-to for so many things in my kitchen. The olive oil I buy has already gone up $3.00 so far this year so I hate hearing there's yet another reason for it to go up even further. Thanks for the heads-up; I think I'll stock up now.
Well Street
All my veggies get drizzled with it. I try to focus on the health benefits to minimize the sticker shock at the store.