Spain: The Tuscan olive sector needs urgent investments to ensure its future

The 2024/2025 olive oil campaign in Tuscany is coming to an end with mixed results. Although the quality of the olives is excellent and the absence of the dreaded olive fly has favoured production, yields have been low, especially in October, due to the rains and summer drought. This has created a critical situation in the sector, with harvesting costs skyrocketing by 30% to 40% compared to the previous year. This combination of factors has put producers in a dilemma: leave the olives on the tree or harvest at a high price that does not ensure profitability. Valentino Berni, president of Cia Toscana, stressed that, despite good production and excellent oil quality, low yields have been one of the main problems of the campaign. “We need investments in infrastructure and technology to modernise the sector and improve the competitiveness of our farms,” said Berni. This year, oil production has been good, especially in inland areas, but harvesting costs and poor profitability ...