118 CULTIVAR ANALYSIS AND PROSPECTIVE STUDIES No. 35 Olive groves and olive oil specialising in olive groves, meaning that twothirds of their Standard Output (SO) comes from olive groves. In contrast, on holdings receiving support for traditional olive groves, the area on specialised holdings is 24,360 hectares, or 26.8 per cent – a considerably lower proportion, as might be expected. The olive groves for which applications were submitted in 2024 under the traditional olive grove support measure cover 90,896 hectares, i.e. 77 per cent of the total estimated area of traditional olive groves (117,000), which is a very significant proportion. The portion of traditional olive groves that does not apply for this support is likely to consist of: plots that do not meet all the eligibility criteria, or very small plots for which applying would not be worthwhile, though they may also be areas that have already been abandoned. In terms of payments made under the 2024 Programme, the number of beneficiaries was 23,400, the area for which payments were made was 89,749 hectares (slightly less than the 90,896 ha for which applications were submitted) and the amount paid was 12,346,470 euros, representing an average area of 3.8 ha, a payment per holding of 527.6 euros and 137.5 euros per hectare. With regard to the characteristics of the holdings and the area supported under this measure, it can be seen that 26.8 per cent of the area receiving support belongs to holdings specialising in olive cultivation, 23 per cent to holdings specialising in cattle or other ruminants, using extensive farming methods, 24% to mixed farming holdings and 14% to other mixed holdings. This is therefore a scheme used primarily by non-specialised holdings. Furthermore, in terms of structure, 15.5% of the area covered by the scheme is on holdings of less than 5 ha, 27.8% on holdings between 5 and 25 ha, 25.7% on holdings between 25 and 100 ha, and the remaining 31% on holdings of more than 100 ha. Regionally, 61.1% of the area is in the Alentejo, 17.8% in Trás-os-Montes and 14.1% in Beira Interior. In other words, 93% of the area is in these three regions. It should also be noted that 97.4% of the area covered by this support is in less-favoured areas, with 22.5% in mountainous areas and the remainder in areas with other natural or specific constraints. Conclusion The traditional olive grove is a symbol of Portugal’s rural identity, a living heritage that has shaped – and should continue to shape – the landscape, culture, economy and rural society of Portugal. It is also an indispensable component in enabling a more ecological, resilient and sustainable form of agriculture. Support for its preservation is therefore essential and must remain a key priority in public policy. On the other hand, the modern olive grove has been an undeniable success, with a remarkable expansion of its area from north to south of the country, but with a clear focus on the Alqueva region; the high level of investment supported under the 2020 Rural Development Programme (PDR 2020) has clearly been a significant factor in this growth.
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