17 March 2023

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

Today's Top Story

An 'El Niño Watch' has been declared - here's what that could mean for Australia's weather in 2023

El Niño is no guarantee of droughts and bushfires, but the last one brought severely dry weather. (Supplied: Mal Carnegie)

The Bureau of Meteorology has simultaneously declared the end of La Niña and an El Niño Watch, indicating a potential rapid shift to hot, dry weather in 2023.

Australia

‘Not here to muck around’: young farmer Lauren Patane is finding her stride in WA’s horticulture sector

A young farmer who is happier out on a tractor than in the business office has paid tribute to the strong women around her to mark International Women’s Day.

And while it’s a few days late, here’s a big ‘Yay!’ to all of our fantastic women olive growers and EVOO/table olive producers!

From emissions to employment, ESG could change the way Australians farm

ESG can impact how Australian farmers manage their land in order to access bank loans, investors and customers. (ABC Rural: Alys Marshall)

References to an emerging global corporate abbreviation, ESG — or environmental, social, and governance – are growing among Australian agribusinesses and it could change the way Australians farm.

Agriculture department in dire straits as 'festering' finance problem reaches a head

A federal government department responsible for protecting Australia's "way of life" is on the cusp of requiring a financial bailout, as it falls hundreds of millions of dollars into the red. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is cutting costs, has banned staff travel and training, and has begun sacking contractors.

As the entity which manages Australia’s biosecurity, this is very concerning.

Research into moth-eating bats could drive natural pest control on Australian vineyards

A tiny insect-eating bat found on a winery in the Northern Tablelands. (Supplied: Zenon Czenze)

Researchers say moth-eating bats could be the key to dramatically reducing the use of pesticides in wineries, potentially saving the industry $50 million a year nationally.

More beneficial critters and less need for spraying … it’s great to see more research like this underway!

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 – like Elaine, who has Bulk Table Olives for sale. Our online Classifieds service is an easy and inexpensive solution to advertising your unwanted equipment. 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.

Climate scientists producing regional climate projections

A state-of-the-art regional climate modelling project will deliver more detailed and reliable projections for local areas across Western Australia, which will be used to inform planning for infrastructure and climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and conservation.

BHP launches renewable diesel trial, raising concerns over biofuel in net zero transition

BHP haul trucks are trialling renewable diesel to reduce carbon emissions on site. (Supplied: BHP )

Mining giant BHP has launched a "renewable diesel" trial to reduce carbon emissions at a Pilbara iron ore mine, but an environmental engineer says the company may be better off with the real thing. Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) blended with diesel will be supplied to the site by BP and used to power mining equipment including haul trucks, loaders, and bulldozers.

It seems we’ve got a way to go yet but it’s interesting to see what’s happening on the alternative fuel scene.

Farmers lift spirits by sourcing Woodland Distillery ingredients from own land

Hidden among the ancient Porongurup Range, nearly 400 kilometres south-east of Perth, is a small distillery where you can taste the region in a glass. Woodland Distillery is close to sourcing all of its ingredients, and electricity, from its own backyard.

There must be some sort of spirit we can make based on olives …

Opportunities

Levy payer candidates wanted for Hort Innovation Director Nomination Committee

Hort Innovation will undertake Board Director elections later this year, with a Director Nomination Committee (DNC) established to conduct the recruitment process and identify suitable candidates.

One of the positions on the DNC is held by a Hort Innovation levy payer, to represent levy payer views on the nomination of Directors.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is currently seeking expressions of interest for levy payer candidates for the DNC. Eligible levy payers should submit a short statement (one page max.) to horticulture.policy@agriculture.gov.au, setting out their qualifications against the desirable skills and attributes for the position:

demonstrated ability to work in team environments to reach agreement and to behave respectfully;

understanding of the issues facing the sector now and the challenges and opportunities of the future;

understanding of the work of Hort Innovation and corporate governance principles.

Expressions of Interest close on 29 March at 5pm AEDT - more information here.

Events

VIC: Back to Basics - AOA/GSOGA Olive Grove Field Day. Don’t miss out, register NOW!

The AOA and GSOGA are combining resources to run a field day for both new and experienced olive producers. Going ‘back to basics’, the program will cover topics including soil nutrition, soil test results, olive grove pests and diseases, and irrigation issues.

When: Sunday, 26 March - 9am-4pm

Where: 115 Seymour-Pyalong Rd, Hilldene, VIC 3660

Hosts: Andrea & David Sefton

Cost: Members/Levy payers $44 inc GST; General $55 inc GST. Includes morning and afternoon tea, lunch and refreshments. Morning and afternoon tea sponsored by GSOGA.

Registrations close Wednesday, 22 March - register here.

Webinar: Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme (HARPS)

The Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme (HARPS) was introduced in 2012 to harmonise the food safety certification requirements for the major retailers in Australia.

This month the HARPS management team are running the Version 2.0 Technical Webinar to present:

Version 2 transition timelines for suppliers
How to prepare for your Version 2.0 audit
New documents
FAQs
Changes to the scheme rules
Training support available for HARPS Version 2.0

There will also be Q&A time - send your technical questions to harps@harpsonline.com.au.

Details

Friday, March 31 from 12-1pm AEDT. Register here and find out more about HARPS here.

2023 Olive Oil Processing Workshop

The course covers every aspect of processing quality olive oil, from grove management for optimal fruit quality to best-practice processing and storage. Along the way you’ll learn a lot about olive oil chemistry, and the practical aspects of oil extraction.

You’ll also get to meet the experts and learn industry secrets from:

International Olive Oil Consultant Pablo Canamasas - Quality, Chemistry, Processing.
Rio Vista Olives Master Miller Jared Bettio - Processing.
Rio Vista Olives Marketing Manager Sarah Ascuitto - EVOO Tasting/Identifying Defects.

Details:

Thursday 13 - Friday 14 April 2023

Rio Vista Olives, Mypolonga, SA

Members/levy payers - $275 inc GST; Others - $375 inc GST. Cost includes all meals.

Contact for more details: Liz Bouzoudis: secretariat@australianolives.com.au or 0478 606 145.

Numbers are limited and registrations close 4 April - register here NOW!

This event is part of the Olive levy project Australian olive industry communications and extension program (OL22000), funded by Hort Innovation, using the Hort Innovation olive research and development levy, co-investment from the Australian Olive Association and contributions from the Australian Government.

International

With olives pressed and picked, local farmers hope consumers discover oil in Israel

Olive growers and oil producers seek greater exposure for their product, cultivated and pressed in small batches but suffering from competition with cheaper, lower-quality imports.

Don’t we know how they feel …

Mediterranean Diet and exercise improve working memory in young students

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and physical activity was linked with enhanced working memory in school-age children in a recent study.

Olive growers on Evia Island strive to revive fire-damaged groves

The aftermath of the wildfires in Evia Island, one of the largest environmental disasters in the country. (Photo: Associated Press)

Some say government assistance is lagging behind efforts to bring new life to Evia’s wildfire-ravaged olive groves.

Andalusian ag minister pushes for a more resilient olive oil sector

The Andalusian regional government and olive producers are working together to mitigate the worst effects of one of the most challenging crop years in history.

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

A new year has started and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) will continue 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!

Olive oil by Sakellaropoulos Organic Farms in preparatory project of the Yale School of Public Health

The School of Public Health at Yale University will study the data from a new preparatory project, titled "Oleocanthal Plus", which will analyse cardio in patients of the Artemis Wellness Naturopathic Practice, with Greek olive oil being used exclusively.