22 May 2026

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Today's top story

BOM winter forecast predicts unusually warm season as El Niño increasingly likely

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting winter to be unusually warm across the entire country, as an El Niño climate pattern is increasingly likely to take hold.

Large parts of the south-east and south-west are also being tipped to be drier than normal.

Australia

Productivity the key this olive harvest

By Laura Thomas

Olive harvest is underway across Australia and as always, producers are working hard to ensure the very best return from their annual crop.

But as the shockwaves of ongoing conflict in the Middle East ripple across the globe, pressure continues to build on the bottom lines of small businesses everywhere.

Read on to access resources to help you get the most from your grove.

An Australian approach to measuring soil health

A Soil Health Framework for Australian agriculture is identifying physical, chemical and biological indicators to measure and improve soil resilience and the farm profitability they support.

New project to study how things are heating up in the agriculture industry

As Australia's agricultural sector tries to navigate more frequent and intense heatwaves, a new project by Charles Darwin University (CDU) aims to better understand the impact of the climate extreme on this essential industry. 

The university is inviting farmers and others working in Australian agriculture to participate in an anonymous survey.

As fertiliser shortages worsen, is it time to rethink how we make it?

Fertiliser is intimately linked with fossil fuels.

With some of the oldest and most nutrient-poor soils in the world, Australian farmers rely on artificial fertilisers to grow crops.

Nominate now for the 2026 Australian Biosecurity Awards

Across Australia, people are taking action every day to protect our agriculture, environment and way of life from biosecurity threats.

The Australian Biosecurity Awards celebrate these efforts by recognising the individuals, groups and organisations helping to keep Australia safe.

Despite some wins, this budget won’t transform regional Australia

Since at least the early 1990s, much of regional Australia has felt overlooked by the rest of the country.

New voices in agriculture are coming from women on the ground

As South Australians vote for the 2026 Agricultural Town of the Year, three Rural Women’s Award-winners are demonstrating how innovation in agritourism, sustainability and wool is reshaping the sector’s future.

Voting closes June 3. Cast your vote now!

International

A ‘super El Niño?’ Why it’s too early to forecast one with certainty, but not too soon to prepare

Talk of a “super El Niño” developing in 2026 is gaining momentum, with concerns rising that this climate pattern could bring extreme rainfall, heat, drought and destructive flooding around the world.

As olive growing shifts north, scientists see deepening environmental feedback loop

Scientists say climate change and food production are now locked in a feedback loop that is reshaping agriculture, including olive cultivation across the Mediterranean.

Morocco, fourth unexpected supplier of olive oil to Spain in one year

Morocco has traditionally been a secondary player in the global olive oil market, especially compared to the Spanish powerhouse that dominates production and export. However, the 2025/2026 campaign marked a turning point that is rapidly changing this perception.

Low prices and weak harvest deepen uncertainty in Greek olive oil sector

Greek olive oil producers are delaying sales after a weak harvest and falling wholesale prices squeezed margins across the country’s main producing regions.

Olive oil market stalls, Puglia takes action

There is strong concern in Puglia, the Italian oil reservoir, which is still with 100 thousand tons of oil stocked among cooperatives, mills and packers, without many buyers on the horizon.

AOA Classifieds

Got something to sell? Want to buy?

If you’ve got something industry-related to sell, you can reach your target market directly with our grower-to-grower service - AOA Classifieds.

Our online classifieds are 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!

Classifieds start from as little as $44 for AOA members ($110 for non-members) and are online now at www.australianolives.com.au/classifieds

For details, rates, or to create a classified, hit the button below.

Olive waste extract may help lower fat and improve muscle markers

Could a byproduct of olive oil production help protect muscle health? Researchers report that a polyphenol-rich olive wastewater extract was linked to modest improvements in body composition, hydration, and antioxidant markers in adults with metabolic risk factors.

The “oil of antiquity” that’s back in vogue today: olive oil, which the Romans valued as highly as gold… but which may have an effect few would expect

Olive oil has always been more than a drizzle over toast or salad. For Emilio Lara, a doctor in Anthropology and author of Un mar de oro verde, it is part food, part culture, and part living history. He recently described olive oil as “the petroleum of Antiquity” and “the closest thing” in nature to a fountain of youth.

Calendar 2026

25 May

Tastebook® EVOO Sensory Training

More information

1 June

Entries open, 2026 Australian International Olive Awards

10 August

Entries open, WA Olive Awards

www.oliveswa.com.au

21 August

Entries close, 2026 Australian International Olive Awards

www.internationaloliveawardsaustralia.com.au

3 September

Entries close, WA Olive Awards

www.oliveswa.com.au

8 October

Awards ceremony, WA Olive Awards

www.oliveswa.com.au

Email Laura to have your event included.

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Friday Olive Extracts brings the latest industry news and events direct to your inbox each week.

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For Friday Olive Extracts editorial and advertising enquiries, email Laura at comms@australianolives.com.au