1 May 2026

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Today's top story

Protect yourself against farm crime

Image: Unsplash

By Laura Thomas

Australian olive producers are being urged to take extra steps to protect their property, as farm theft escalates across the country.

From fuel and agricultural equipment, to livestock and firearms, the farming sector is facing an ongoing and costly threat.

Read on to find out what you can do to keep your rural property protected.

Australia

2025 second largest bushfire year in the past decade

An inaugural report from a new comprehensive and detailed fire mapping database has found 2025 to be the second largest fire year in the past decade, driven by severe weather and storm-related ignitions.

El Niño warming could be unprecedented, but don't assume record drought in Australia

The Pacific Ocean's continued rapid warming towards El Niño has firmed up the odds that Australia faces a warm and dry second half to 2026.

CSIRO outlines a regional blueprint to safeguard Australia’s food future

The South East Queensland Food System Strategy provides a coordinated, region-wide plan that responds to climate volatility, rapid population growth and increasingly fragile supply chains.

Farmers and authorities on alert as Australian plague locust migrates to South Australia

Multiple locust swarms in South Australia's Riverland region have put farmers and authorities on alert, prompting the South Australian Plague Locust Commissioner to send surveying teams to the region.

25 years strengthening Australia’s plant biosecurity

For 25 years, Plant Health Australia (PHA) has played a central role in safeguarding Australia’s plant industries, food security, environment and way of life.

Mouse plague hits WA grain farmers as numbers surge in SA: ‘You literally can’t get away from them’

Grain growers are on high alert as mouse numbers in Western Australia reach plague proportions and numbers surge in South Australia.

The countdown is on for Payday Super

If you’re an employer, take action now to get ready so you’re prepared for the biggest change to Australia’s super system in decades. Starting 1 July 2026, employers must pay super contributions for each payday.

Take action now by:

✅ Reviewing your payroll systems and cashflow

✅ Understanding the changes

✅ Considering whether your business can start paying super more frequently

✅ Staying informed

Visit the ATO website for more information.

International

Supply rebound pushes prices down as uncertainty clouds outlook

The olive oil market in Europe is stabilizing after a period of volatility, with production rebounding significantly in Spain and Greece but declining in Italy.

Prices have dropped sharply due to increased supply, leading to expectations of higher consumption and exports, although concerns about climate change and external supply dynamics persist.

Greece strengthens its position in Australia's growing olive oil market

The global olive oil market is entering a phase of relative stability after years of volatility, though it remains influenced by climate change and broader economic conditions.

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 oil exports bolster Tunisia's food trade balance surplus

Tunisia's food trade balance achieved a surplus of 798.3 million Tunisian dinars ($285 million) in the first quarter of this year, driven largely by olive oil exports.

Forget asphalt and concrete: Engineers turn olive pits into eco-friendly road paving material that traps carbon for decades

The world's second most consumed material has a quiet emissions problem. A lab in Catalonia found a fix hiding in agricultural waste.

For some olive oils, wind-powered cargo adds new appeal

A sailing cargo vessel recently unloaded French and Italian olive oils in New York, carrying them across the Atlantic by wind alone.

Operated by French company Grain de Sail, the shipment points to a quiet but significant shift not only in how olive oil is transported, but also in how it is positioned and perceived, as logistics itself becomes part of the product’s story.

Phenolic compounds more pronounced in organic olive oils

Study highlights how agronomic practices and cultivars affect the content of two of the healthiest phenolic compounds in extra virgin olive oil.

Pennulara, the rediscovery of a precious olive variety

This cultivar, rooted in the history of a region, is now the focus of renewed scientific and production interest.

Calendar 2026

25 May

Tastebook® EVOO Sensory Training

Registration and 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 open, 2026 Australian International Olive Awards

3 September

Entries close, WA Olive Awards

www.oliveswa.com.au

Early October (date TBC)

Awards ceremony, WA Olive Awards

www.oliveswa.com.au

Email Laura to have your event included.

Send us YOUR news!

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

As THE place to share olive industry news, event details and reminders, our industry e-newsletter keeps growing in popularity and we now have nearly 3,000 subscribers across the globe. If you’re not one of them, why not? Sign up here!

And please remember this is YOUR e-newsletter and we’re keen to receive your news and help spread the word. Just email Laura at comms@australianolives.com.au - it’s free and the best way to reach your fellow industry members!

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