hedgerow olive groves10 ; moderate impact on the traditional landscape11 ); — social sustainability (more jobs, better pay and retaining the population in rural areas12 ); Finally, the last chapter highlights some conclusions regarding this modernisation process (which are generally positive), notably, in economic terms, the increased investment momentum associated with vase and hedgerow olive groves (with a preferred location in the Alentejo, within the Alqueva hydro-agricultural development area); Portugal’s international standing in olive oil production and exports; the sector’s positive contribution to national agricultural production and to the economy’s trade balance; gains in productivity and efficiency associated with the use of ‘dwarf’ olive tree varieties and the availability of water and soil; and the greater economic profitability associated with these olive grove production systems. In terms of the environmental sustainability of these new types of olive groves, the conclusions are also positive, “with no significant negative impacts of cultivation on the environment having been identified”. The “modern olive grove is capable of ensuring high efficiency in the use of resources”, whilst also ensuring a high level of soil protection against erosion, an improvement in soil fertility, and the capacity to sequester large quantities of CO₂”. With regard to social sustainability, the report highlights the “ability to guarantee significant levels of employment (…) thereby helping to retain the population in the regions where the olive groves are located”. Conclusions/comments As discussed in the study, olive cultivation is widespread across the countries of the Mediterranean basin, having flourished in this region for thousands of years. Portugal is no exception: with a predominantly Mediterranean climate, characterised by hot, dry summers and cold, rainy winters, olive cultivation is a defining feature of the landscape, in agriculture and in Portuguese cuisine (the Mediterranean diet). In recent decades, with the globalisation of the economy and the need to compete in a wider and more dynamic world, alongside the growth of the urban population and the decline of the rural population (where agriculture is more prevalent), more modern olive production systems have begun to emerge – systems that are more productive, less labour-intensive and more efficient in their use of resources. The expansion of the Alqueva project and the need to compete in the international market were key factors in the rapid growth of the area under vase and hedgerow olive groves in the Alentejo. Many Portuguese and foreign investors were attracted by the profitability generated by modern olive cultivation, which already had a track record of success in southern Spain and had yielded good economic results. Interest in olive groves for olive oil production in the Alentejo has continued (the area grew significantly between 2015 and 2019), although it has remained at 206,000 hectares since 2020. This book seeks to explain how the ‘new’ olive production systems work, as well as to highlight their importance in today’s world and, in particular, in Portugal, whilst also emphasising the environmental (and social) challenges and the respective responses through the implementation of good agricultural practices. The study thus aims 10 “hedgerow and vase olive groves, whilst representing a form of agricultural intensification and consequently having a greater potential to reduce biodiversity than more extensive systems, can significantly mitigate their impact through appropriate agricultural practices and the safeguarding of refuge areas to promote functional biodiversity” (p.144/5) 11 “When viewed on a regional scale, it is evident that the proportion of olive groves in the total agricultural area is no longer particularly significant, with the region’s traditional landscapes still largely predominating – landscapes associated with rain-fed cereal crops, pastures, traditional olive groves and cork oak forests.” (p.148) 12 “As well as creating employment, olive growing has made it possible to improve labour productivity and, consequently, to increase workers’ wages, thereby creating better conditions for improving quality of life and retaining local populations.” (p.155) 130 CULTIVAR ANALYSIS AND PROSPECTIVE STUDIES No. 35 Olive groves and olive oil
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