‘Aussie-made’ not clear; 6L Yale students; Olive oil war

27 September 2024

Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au

Today's top story

Australian Made is not necessarily Australian-owned, and actual local businesses are calling for clearer labelling

A coalition of Aussie-owned businesses want Aussie-made logos to be made clearer. The group commissioned a survey which found Australians are being misled into buying foreign-owned products. The coalition wants a conversation with the federal government about clearer labelling for consumers.

Australia

Rabobank survey finds confidence has returned to Australia’s farm sector

Released last week, the third quarter Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey found that Australian rural confidence has improved this quarter, fuelled by positive market signals and useful winter rain in a number of regions.

That improvement was in all states, with Tasmania recording the biggest U-turn, and in all commodities except for cotton. Investment intentions remain stable.

Access a summary of the national results here.

Listen: Draft mandatory grocery code to force supermarkets to act in 'good faith'

Will the code see the supermarkets on the ropes for bad behaviour or simply ducking and weaving the penalties?

Going to the National Olive Industry Conference or AIOA Presentation Dinner? Renew your AOA membership for discount eligibility

AOA membership renewals for 2024-2025 were emailed in early July, so if you haven’t paid yours to date please action payment as soon as possible.

Along with industry advocacy and representation at government level, membership of the national peak industry body, the Australian Olive Association (AOA), provides financial members with a wealth of direct benefits, including:

· heavily discounted rates on National Olive Industry Conference & Exhibition registrations; and

· discounted ticket prices for the Australian International Olive Awards Presentation Dinner.

If you haven’t received your renewal, please contact Liz at secretariat@australianolives.com.au for a replacement copy and then pay promptly to ensure your continued eligibility for these and many more significant member discounts.

Reminder: The membership discounts for the events above can only be applied for current financial members, so make sure you’ve renewed before you sign up!

Not an AOA member yet?

Find out more and apply to join at the AOA website - www.australianolives.com.au - or contact Administration Manager Elizabeth Bouzoudis at secretariat@australianolives.com.au.

Mulch trials reusing waste from Victorian green bins to help grow wine grapes

Karen Thomas helped test the organic mulch to see how effective it was at encouraging vine growth. (ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)

Waste from suburban green bins across Melbourne is being reused as mulch on vineyards in central Victoria - with results showing more vibrant grape growth and reduced chemical use.

Interesting information on the benefits and considerations around composting in horticulture.

Natural capital advisors to help NSW farmers tap into environmental and economic returns

The NSW Government has appointed a team of 11 new natural capital advisors who they hope will help to future-proof the agricultural industry and increase resilience in the face of a changing climate. The program is run by Local Land Services to help advise farmers on the environmental and economic opportunities available through investing in natural assets such as soil, trees, water, plants and ecosystems.

Got something to sell? Or want to buy? Go direct to your target market – olive growers and producers

If you’ve got something industry-related to sell, you can reach your target market directly with Olivebiz Classifieds. Our online Classifieds service is an easy and inexpensive solution to advertising your unwanted equipment like Julie, who has a pallet of olive oil cardboard boxes for sale. And if there’s something you’re looking for, it’s the ideal way to get the message out loud and clear to your peers and industry associates – the most likely to have what you need.

Olivebiz Classifieds cost just $40 for AOA members ($100 for non-members), including a text ad and link through to either your web page or images hosted on our site. And you don’t need to be a tech-head: just send us your info and we’ll post it up for you.

Olivebiz Classifieds are online now at www.olivebiz.com.au/classifieds. To arrange a listing, contact Gerri at editor@olivegrower.com.au.

Thirty years since women recognised as farmers in Australian census

Australian Women in Agriculture was formed in 1994, and demanded women be counted in the census as farmers. Until women began advocating for themselves, they were often overlooked in farm paperwork and official registers. While women now make up one-third of Australia's agricultural workforce, they're still under-represented in leadership.

A big cheers to all the women involved in the olive industry, many of whom lead major award-winning brands and groves.

Opportunities

Second voluntary MDB Bridging the Gap tender open

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is recovering water for the environment as part of the Murray−Darling Basin Plan, through initiatives like the Bridging the Gap Program.

The program aims to reclaim 49.9 gigalitres (GL) of water to meet the Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) across six catchments in QLD, NSW, and the ACT. It is on the way to recovering over 30GL across all six catchments, bridging the gap in two NSW catchments and the ACT.

While this marks significant progress, efforts continue to achieve another 18GL in three Northern Basin catchments via a second voluntary tender concentrating on two catchments: Queensland Condamine-Balonne surface water and NSW Border Rivers. Interested sellers are invited to apply through the AusTender website until 13 November 2024.

For more information on Bridging the Gap, visit the DCCEEW website here.

Events

Don’t miss out: register NOW for the 2024 AOA National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition - Bendigo, VIC, 23-25 October

If you haven’t booked already, now is the time to make sure you join this year’s must-attend national industry gathering. Being held in the central Victorian city of Bendigo, this year’s event offers a compelling program of presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions, along with great networking and socializing opportunities.

Clockwise from top left: Paul Miller, Leandro Ravetti, Robert Spooner-Hart, Andrew Taylor.

Panel Session: Why Did I Get No Fruit This Year? And What Can I Do Instead?

Both locally and globally we’ve seen a range of issues affecting production in recent years, some obvious, others more difficult to define. The panel of industry experts, including Paul Miller, Leandro Ravetti, Andrew Taylor and Professor Robert Spooner-Hart, will discuss the issues around production loss, responding to issues raised by growers over the past season. They will also provide advice on practices to help reduce and/or mitigate crop loss in the future. The interactive session will include ample time for questions, ensuring growers will get answers specific to their needs.

Harrison Rowntree, Longridge Olives: Setting Up Or Expanding A Grove

Harrison will share his knowledge and experiences in planning an orchard for success as a small to medium sized enterprise, looking at essential planning considerations and focussed management.

Mick Ryan, ex Owner, Preston Valley Grove: Future Proofing - How To Make An Olive Grove A Saleable Asset

Ryan shares the preparation and strategy used for Preston Valley Grove’s successful quick sale in 2022.

Kealy Day, Smart Commercial Solar: Addressing Emissions And Energy Costs With Solar And Storage

Day will share relevant case studies and examples, offering practical insights on how olive producers can secure their energy future and capitalise on sustainability opportunities.

Trade Exhibition

The event will also feature a range of leading olive industry suppliers and service providers, so it’s an opportune time to review your business needs and to learn all about the latest innovations. Be sure to make time to visit the booths and speak with the experts in attendance, listed here.

View the full program here and register here.

The National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition is facilitated by the Australian Olive Association, partially funded by Hort Innovation using the Olive R&D levy, with in-kind contributions from the Australian Olive Association and funding from the Australian Government. The event is also supported by a range of industry sponsors and exhibitors, the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the Victorian Government.

Countdown to presentation of Australian International Olive Awards 2024

Expert judging panels across the globe have finished appraising entries in the 2024 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) and entrants are counting down to the announcement of medal results.

The winners will be announced at a gala Presentation Dinner in Bendigo on 25 October, held in conjunction with the National Olive Conference & Exhibition. Will your EVOO, Flavoured Olive Oil or Table Olives be named 2024 Best of Show?

Don’t miss the chance to be there as the winners are announced, and accept your trophy: book your AIOA Presentation Dinner tickets here now and join your peers as we celebrate the best olive products and producers of 2024.

2024 Platinum Sponsor

AgEnviro Labs

New Zealand

Final day to register for 2024 ONZ Conference & Awards Evening – don’t miss out!

Registrations close today for the 2024 Olives NZ Conference and NZ EVOO Awards Evening, being held at Rydges Wellington on Saturday 12 October:

ONZ Conference - 8.30am to 4.30pm, $250
Awards Evening - 6pm to 11pm, $175

The 2024 Conference theme is Moving Forward, Looking Back and sessions will offer insights, inspiration and the opportunity for robust discussion on the issues and challenges facing the olive industry. Coming together will enable shared perspectives and connection - imperative in the current challenging environment.

Following the Conference, the Awards Evening will celebrate the successes of the season with the presentation of this year’s New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards.

Full details here and access the online booking form here.

Olives NZ thanks sponsors HortiCentre Trust, Modern Olives, The Grove Supply Co., CPack and Arthur Holmes for their support.

International

Forget about early September olive oil! Some people have already produced it on August 23rd!

A Slovenian olive oil company that aims to produce an extra virgin olive oil rich in polyphenols.

Invasive sheep devastate olive groves in Eastern Spain

Over the past 50 years, invasive species like the Barbary sheep have rapidly increased in both population and range, leading to more frequent interactions with agriculture.

With a standing jump of over two metres, these are Spain’s equivalent of our kangaroos.

Yale students consume six times more olive oil than average Americans. Is it good for them?

Swimming in olive oil might sound like a bad dream, but for Yale students, it’s a reality. Yale students consume over six liters of olive oil a year, far exceeding the U.S. national average of one liter.

Olive oil from super-intensives, here are the most productive varieties

The researchers of Scientific and Technological Research Centre of Extremadura,Institute of Sustainable Agriculture of Córdoba and the Center IFAPA “Alameda del Obispo” have evaluated the results obtained in a comparative test between varieties of hedged olive grove (super-intensive).

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

We’re now well over half-way through the year and the Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) team continues to bring all the latest industry news and events to your Inbox every week. THE place to share olive industry news, event details and reminders, our industry e-newsletter keeps growing in popularity and we now have nearly 4000 subscribers across the globe. If you’re not one of them, you can sign up here.

And please remember that FOE is YOUR e-newsletter, so we’re keen to receive your news and help spread the word. Just email your information to Editor Gerri Nelligan at editor@olivegrower.com.au - it’s free, and the best way to reach your fellow industry members!

California table olive yield projected to increase for second consecutive year

California’s table olive production is expected to rise for the second straight year after a wet start in 2024 and favorable weather conditions as olive trees bloom.

An all-too-rare positive weather report – what a pleasant change!

An olive oil war rages between Italy and Spain

Thanks to a clever marketing campaign, Italy has convinced the world that it is the king of liquid gold – hiding the fact that a significant proportion of "Made in Italy" olive oil comes from Spain.

An interesting coffee break read about the importance of marketing.

Extra virgin olive oil improves bone architecture

Numerous clinical studies – starting from Laval-Jeantet M. in 1976 (Path. Biol. ;24: 212-25) – have described a decrease in osteoporosis (OP) in people consuming a Mediterranean diet supplemented with EVO oil.