identified, including around 17 associated with PDOs. These traditional varieties are deeply adapted to local soil and climate conditions and constitute a valuable genetic reservoir, Portugal possesses one of the world’s richest olive tree varietal heritages, with over 40 identified varieties, including around 17 associated with PDOs. Portugal’s position as a major producer and exporter on the world market. However, the sector’s future success will depend on its ability to respond to an increasingly demanding context, marked by market volatility, competition from new producing regions, climate change and growing pressure on water resources. The sector’s future will thus depend on combining competitiveness, sustainability and differentiation. It will be essential to continue investing in production efficiency, irrigation and innovation, whilst also promoting traditional olive groves and protecting the national genetic heritage, strengthening own-brand products and diversifying with characteristics such as drought resistance, cold tolerance and hardiness, which are fundamental to developing varieties better adapted to future climate scenarios. However, many of these varieties are not suited to intensive cultivation systems nor do they achieve high levels of productivity. Consequently, the modernisation of Portuguese olive groves has been based on the introduction of foreign varieties, such as Arbequina and Arbosana, which are more productive and better suited to these systems. This trend jeopardises national varietal diversity, promoting the homogenisation of olive groves and olive oil profiles. The replacement of native varieties with foreign ones It will be essential to continue investing in production efficiency, irrigation and innovation, whilst also promoting traditional olive groves, protecting the national genetic heritage, strengthening own-brand products and diversifying markets. markets. Only in this way can Portugal consolidate its international position, creating greater value for Portuguese olive oil and ensuring the resilience of national olive growing in the coming decades. compromises the distinctive character of olive oils derived from traditional varieties such as Galega or Cordovil, whose unique profiles are essential for differentiating and enhancing the value of Portuguese olive oil in an increasingly standardised global market. Investing in the improvement of traditional varieties, making them compatible with modern production systems, is therefore a key strategy for strengthening the sector’s competitiveness. This approach will make it possible to combine production efficiency with the production of distinctive, high-quality olive oils. 6. Conclusion Portuguese olive growing is in a particularly favourable position to continue growing, as a result of the modernisation of production systems, the improvement in olive oil quality and the growing 7 . Bibliography Francisco Campello (AGROGES). Sustainability of Olive Groves in Portugal – Challenges and Responses. Cascais: Princípia Editora / Amélia de Mello Foundation, 2022; International Olive Council – IOC (2026). Economic Affairs and Promotion Unit. Market Statistics. World statistics on olive oil and table olives. Available at: https://www.internationaloliveoil.org/ quehacemos/estadisticas/ Parras Rosa, Manuel (Ed.). Annual Report on the State of the Olive Sector 2025. Jaén: Caja Rural de Jaén Chair in Olive Economy, Marketing and Cooperativism, 2025; European Commission (DG Agriculture and Rural Development). EU Agricultural Outlook 2025–2035. European Union, December 2025; Kaniewski, David, et al. “Olive production in the 21st century will be threatened by water stress and declining solar activity”. Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio), 2025. 62 CULTIVAR ANALYSIS AND PROSPECTIVE STUDIES No. 35 Olive groves and olive oil
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