GO OLIVITECH. Optimization of Olive Growing through Technological and Aerobiological Analysis 

Fungal diseases affecting olive trees are difficult to predict, and preventive treatments pose environmental and economic challenges for the olive-growing sector. OLIVITECH is a supra-regional Operational Group aiming to improve the prediction of fungal diseases and reduce the number of chemical treatments in olive groves through technological and aerobiological analysis. In doing so, OLIVITECH will contribute to a more sustainable and competitive olive-growing sector by decreasing the number of treatments and enhancing the quality of the olives produced. 

To achieve this, OLIVITECH will use automatic aerobiological collectors that will enable real-time monitoring of fungal spore concentrations in olive groves. It will also collect data on phenology, meteorology, and symptoms of the most common olive diseases (such as peacock spot, lead spot, and anthracnose). OLIVITECH will integrate and analyze this information using data mining techniques to develop an early warning system that provides infection risk alerts and “tailored” treatment recommendations for each olive grove. Additionally, OLIVITECH will evaluate the impact of climate change on olive production. 

In this way, OLIVITECH aims to foster a more competitive and sustainable olive sector. On one hand, OLIVITECH will help reduce the number of treatments and the associated costs of labor, machinery, and equipment. It will also contribute to improving the sector’s economic performance by facilitating access to higher-value markets, including those focused on organic products and Protected Designations of Origin (PDO). On the other hand, OLIVITECH will promote more environmentally friendly farming practices by reducing the risk of contamination of water, air, and soil. In short, by decreasing reliance on chemical treatments and maximizing the efficiency of interventions, OLIVITECH promises a revolution in how olive trees are cultivated and cared for in Spain. 

OLIVITECH’s main goal is to optimize phytosanitary treatments in olive groves by developing an early warning system for diseases that combines meteorological, phenological, and airborne pathogen presence data. To achieve this, OLIVITECH has set the following specific objectives: 

1. Determine the phenological stages of olive trees and evaluate various climate change scenarios. 

1. Optimize aerobiological sampling using integrated and automatic technologies. 

1. Establish predictive models for the fungal spore levels required for infection. 

1. Develop algorithms to predict fungal outbreaks by integrating various datasets. 

1. Develop a warning system for potential infections. 

1. Optimize the number of phytosanitary treatments in olive farming. 

The outcomes expected from the OLIVITECH project include: 

• A phenological phase prediction model tailored to each plot. 

• Assessment of climate change impacts. 

• Calibration of automatic collectors for fungal spores and pollen detection. 

• General spore prediction models for each pathogen. 

• Disease risk models based on geographic and climatic features. 

• Infection thresholds for each fungus (peacock spot, lead spot, and anthracnose). 

• An olive disease alert tool customized for each olive grove. 

• A model to calculate annual cost savings (products and labor) per hectare. 

Consult the project information brochure in: Spanish / English 

Check the project activities in: Spanish / English 

Operational Groups, the main players in implementing the EIP-Agri (European Innovation Partnership for agricultural productivity and sustainability), are a key tool in the execution of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CAP Strategic Plan or PEPAC) 2023–2027. They are composed of actors with different profiles but common interests—such as farmers, livestock breeders, businesses, research centers, or training and outreach institutions—who come together to launch an innovation project that provides a joint and multisectoral response to a problem or need. 

This innovation project is part of the 2023–2027 Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (PEPAC), co-financed 80% by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union and 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA). The Directorate-General for Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-Food Training (DGDRIFA) is the authority responsible for administering these funds.
Total project budget: €551,196.27 Total grant: €543,206.47