Building Climate-Resilient Mediterranean Olive Systems: Integrating Soil, Water, Carbon, Biodiversity, and Innovation for a Sustainable Future
Abstract Mediterranean olive systems face compound climatic, ecological, and socio-economic pressures. Drawing on the consensus of the International Conference on Sustainability in Olive Cultivation (ICSOC) 2025, we propose an integrated framework structured along three axes: five thematic pillars (soil, biodiversity, plant health, water–energy–carbon nexus, market and governance), four operationally defined transversal concepts (resilience, sustainability, circularity, and innovation), and three nested levels of analysis (plot, landscape, socio-ecological system). We map cross-pillar synergies and trade-offs that must be governed, including intensification versus biodiversity and monitoring-intensive carbon farming versus the inclusion of small producers. Agricultural productivity is treated as the operational anchor that underwrites rural livelihoods and legitimizes regenerative management. Anchored in the EU Green Deal, EU Soil Mission, and EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation, this Perspective offers an actionable map for the transition to climate-resilient, productive olive systems.
Authors
- J. A. Pereira
- Julio Calero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2606-307X)
- Sabrina Moret (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5752-5540)
- Christine Alewell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9295-9806)
- Nektarios N. Kourgialas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1312-6185)
- Blanca B. Landa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9511-3731)
- Tassos C. Kyriakides (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8913-108X)
- Pedro J. Rey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5550-0393)
- Aadil Bajoub (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3665-5223)
- Juan A. Polo
- Emmanouil M. Kabourakis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8684-5052)
- Artemi Cerdà (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5326-4489)
- Giorgos Stavrianakis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8970-8069)
- Anastasio J. Villanueva
- Juan F. García-Reyes
- Antonio J. Manzaneda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9384-7910)
- M. Dolores La Rubia
- Conchi M. Díez
- Tullia Gallina Toschi
- Eva M. Murgado-Armenteros
- Panos Panagos
- Vasileios Gkisakis
- Juan B. Barroso
- Juan M. Martín-García
Institutions
- Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (GR)
- University of Udine (IT)
- Czech Agrifood Research Center (CZ)
- Universitat de València (ES)
- Universidad de Granada (ES)
- University of Basel (CH)
- Universidad de Jaén (ES)
- Mediterranean University (ME)
- Yale University (US)
- International Olive Council (ES)
- Universidade Politécnica de Bragança (PT)
- Joint Research Centre (IT)
- Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (ES)
- Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (ES)
- École Nationale d'Agriculture de Meknès (MA)
- University of Córdoba (ES)
- University of Bologna (IT)
- University of the Aegean (GR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Sustainable Agriculture
- Published
- 2026-08-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-026-00183-4
- Primary Topic
- Edible Oils Quality and Analysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Commission