Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety of life that includes all the species and ecosystems of a certain area and their evolution over millions of years.
Biodiversity is the result of multiple processes, both natural and fostered by human action, which has adapted to the environment, exploring it, utilizing it, and modifying it according to its needs, using the resources that nature offers. In fact, many environments that now seem natural to us are the result of plant cultivation and harvesting over centuries. Thus, biodiversity is a consequence of the crossbreeding of local plant and animal varieties.
Biodiversity has three categories: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Therefore, it does not only refer to living beings; it also includes the variety of ecosystems and the genetic differences within species and the interactions between them.
Therefore, maintaining and conserving biodiversity is essential for sustainable development. In addition to its intrinsic value, biodiversity is fundamental to human survival, as it is linked to our health and well-being and underpins social and economic development. We must not neglect the urgent fight against climate change.
In Andalusia alone, there are one and a half million hectares dedicated to olive cultivation, constituting one of the most distinctive landscapes in the Mediterranean. This landscape has provided a source of economic wealth while also supporting a vast forest of incalculable ecological value.
It is therefore very important to promote biodiversity in olive groves, which will also lead to improved quality of Extra Virgin Olive Oil thanks to the survival of living soils, with their own animal and plant species, which prevent erosion.
“Living Olive Groves” Project
Olivares Vivos is an initiative that seeks to increase the profitability of olive groves by restoring their biodiversity. This project is funded by the European Commission and co-financed by the Fundación Patrimonio Comunal Olivarero (Olive Grove Communal Heritage Foundation) and the Interprofessional Association of Spanish Olive Oil. It is coordinated by SEO BirdLife and has partners such as the Provincial Council of Jaén, the University of Jaén, and the Spanish National Research Council.
Its objective, as indicated in its founding principles, "is to launch profitable and biodiverse olive growing models with scientifically endorsed models that generate Olive Oils based on the conviction that the olive grove is a strategic crop to recover biodiversity due to its characteristics of permanent and forestry cultivation, its distribution throughout the entire Mediterranean basin and its character as a native plant of this Mediterranean environment surrounding many of the main protected natural areas, being able to act as a great ecological corridor."
Ultimately, it's about increasing the profitability of olive groves by restoring their biodiversity through a production model that offers recognized and profitable added value in the oil market.
Olive groves and biodiversity
The olive tree cultivated today comes from a wild species native to the Mediterranean, the wild olive (Olea europea), which has been domesticated by human action, making it a well-adapted tree that has been forging relationships with other natural species in our environment for thousands of years, forming a humanized forest with high biodiversity values, with a high environmental value.
The Department of Ecology at the University of Jaén and the Experimental Station for Arid Zones of the Spanish National Research Council are the scientific entities responsible for conducting a comprehensive inventory of olive grove biodiversity and analyzing its evolution in order to certify, using data and scientific methodology, the improvements made in the olive groves. The groups analyzed are plant, bird, and arthropod species that assess the state of the olive groves, thus scientifically certifying the contribution of the Olivares Vivos project to the recovery of olive grove biodiversity.
This project involves public and private entities firmly committed to the future of olive groves, convinced that a profitable olive-growing model committed to nature is viable. They are working together, clearly understanding the leading role that olive growers themselves must play in achieving this goal. They must develop strategies that combine environmental restoration with the economic profitability of their plantations. Biodiversity is an indicator of environmental improvement recognizable by producers and consumers.
Quality EVOO as the ultimate goal
The olive growers involved in this project understand that, in order to add value to their olive groves, the final product is not the olive, but the oil. It is therefore not about producing as much as possible, but rather producing a profitable oil that will strengthen the future of their olive groves. This is a path that has already been taken by many olive growers, both in organic and conventional cultivation, who understand that producing more is not the only path to profitability.
Therefore, regarding the marketing of EVOO, the project offers assistance in brand creation and design, marketing advice, and logistical assistance in marketing, increasing cooperation and coordination among olive growers, providing added value and diversifying the Extra Virgin Olive Oil offering.
In this sense, they affirm, Extra Virgin Olive Oil "will be the first European agri-food product whose contribution to biodiversity conservation is certified and scientifically endorsed."
Ultimately, profitability will depend on the brand's market strength, which, in turn, will be driven by growing consumer demand. Therefore, research and marketing testing are necessary to define the most appropriate commercial strategy to ensure and enhance profitability, so that the brand is recognized in the markets and appreciated by consumers. "Millions of consumers interested in biodiversity conservation is a good starting point," they conclude.
