In April 2022, the MOVING project held a workshop in the municipality of Carcabuey (Córdoba, Spain) with around twenty participants to learn about the progress on the analysis of the Organic Mountain Olive Oil value chain. This is carried out by ADEGUA (the Association for the Development of the Guadajoz and East countryside of Córdoba), one of the partners of the project.
This meeting brought together producers, processors, technicians and representatives from the regional administration, and actors from other related value chains, where they were able to add their comments on the work in progress.
At the Carcabuey Town Hall, the MOVING team presented several studies that were being carried out on the value chain of organic mountain olive oil related to economic, socio-cultural and environmental aspects.
The data shared showed that there is a high level of alignment between organic production and olive groves located on slopes above 20%. This sector participates dynamically in the different stages of the value chain, but the horizon remains open for further diversification and innovation to capture greater added value in the area itself. High production costs compromise the future of these olive groves.
The workshop was accompanied by a visit to the regenerative farm El Valle del Conde where its owners are carrying out a novel management experience by incorporating the management of herbaceous cover crops and soil fertilisation, through a collaboration with several sheep farmers located in the vicinity of this extensive mountain olive farm with a surface area of more than 200 hectares.
The technical director of this farm, Francisco Ruiz, explained the peculiarities of the farm and added that “the aim of this working group is to inform the European Union so that it can take decisions according to the needs of the territories, develop a special sensitivity towards organic mountain olive groves on slopes and provide the relevant public support so that this practice is not abandoned”.
During the day were visited the flocks of sheep that graze, on the farm for a long annual season, following a rotation system.
“The visit to the farm was very positive because we were able to see in the territory what is being done. This contextualisation is very enriching, because it gives you an idea of the difficulties and the values that need to be protected in this value chain so that the benefits of this production system are not lost, as well as the repercussions it has”, commented Silvia Atenciano, technical advisor of the Delegation of Agriculture of the Andalusian Regional Government.
Meetings will continue to be held to complete the preparation of a report, based on a comprehensive analysis, which will give visibility at European level to the problems faced by mountain olive groves, and thus be taken into account for future subsidies.