Farmers in Spain and Italy are turning to ancient and modern techniques to preserve production of regional favorite crops, including olive oil and Prosecco Because due to climate change, the production of olive oil and wine is decreasing in Spain and Italy of Europe. Due to climate change, extreme heat in Europe has caused drought, which has affected the cultivation of olives and grapes.
Effect of drought
- Spain and Italy are the top producers of olive oil in the world but the industry is at risk due to desertification and drought.
- Due to drought, crop production is decreasing and crop diseases like fungus are increasing.
- Olive oil production in Spain’s drought-hit region dropped to 663,000 tonnes last year, less than half the average of 1.45 million tonnes recorded in the previous four harvests.
- Italy, famous for wine and pasta wheat, faces one of its most severe droughts in 70 years in 2022.
- Wine production in Italy is projected to decline by 12% this year due to an increase in fungus/fungal diseases on vineyards due to extreme heat, meaning Italy will lose its position as the world’s largest wine producer to France. .
Geographical location of Spain and Italy
- Spain and Italy come under the hilly region. Therefore, there is a problem of excessive soil erosion due to rainfall during the rainy season.
- Here, during the rainy season, water does not reach deep into the soil, due to which the soil remains dry. For this, cover crop farming is being done here. Due to which the problem of soil erosion can be solved.
- The Italian agricultural industry is the third largest in the European Union in terms of production value, after France and Germany.
Remedy
- In the olive orchard, agriculture can be done by growing grass along with trees to prevent water drainage from the hill and soil erosion.
- Scientists say growing crops like grasses and legumes in the rows between olive trees acts as a sponge to conserve water, prevent flooding and retain nutrients.
- In the short term, this practice may reduce yields but it can increase oil quality and protect the soil for future harvest.
- Emilio González, professor of rural engineering at the University of Cordoba, said cover crops “act as micro-reservoirs, meaning that each drop of rainwater stays on the ground for a long time before flowing off, so that the water can penetrate be more likely.”
Cover crop agriculture
- Cover crops are plants that are planted not for harvesting purposes but to cover the soil.
- Cover crops manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity, and wildlife in an agricultural ecosystem.
- Cover crops can increase microbial activity in the soil, which has a positive effect on nitrogen availability and nitrogen uptake in target crops. Due to which crop production increases.
- Cover crops are a non-seasonal crop planted after the harvest of a cash crop. Cover crops are soft crops in that they enhance the survival of the main crop they are harvested from, often grown in winter.
- The EU has set a target to reduce nutrient loss by 50% by 2030. In January, it began giving subsidies to farmers using cover crops as part of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
- Cover crops can maintain biodiversity, including agricultural insects, helping farmers control pests such as olive, fruit fly and olive moth.
- According to a survey, cultivation of cover crops has seen an increase in reptiles such as owls, blackbirds, wigeons, hoopoes and the near-endangered ocellated lizard.