The LIFE Olivares Vivos project developed an innovative model of olive growing that can be used elsewhere in Europe.

Olive groves extend over nearly five million hectares of the EU. One of the main crops in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, with nearly 1.9 million olive farms, the olive sector is a vital source of employment and economic activity. What’s more, olive groves can harbour great biodiversity, as well as connect areas of high conservation value. Intensive cultivation of the crop, however, has led to the deterioration of this function.

LIFE Olivares Vivos aimed to design and certify biodiversity-friendly olive groves. Initial expectations were exceeded: LIFE Olivares Vivos has become an international benchmark for biodiversity-friendly agriculture, in part by carrying out the largest scientific study in the world of biodiversity in olive groves.