29 May 2026

Have you been forwarded this newsletter? Not receiving AOA emails?

Sign up to all our communications here and remember to check your SPAM folders regularly!

Today's top story

Olive industry calls for Health Star Rating exemption

By Laura Thomas

Australian olive industry leaders are calling for edible oils to be exempt from the Federal Government’s Heath Star Rating system until a more equitable, science-based alternative can be developed.

Public feedback is now open on plans to mandate the controversial nutritional rating system.

Read more about why the move would be a significant blow to the Australian olive industry.

Australia

Is Health Star Rating information working against Australia’s olive industry?

Health Star Rating information will soon be compulsory on all packaged food in Australia.

Unfortunately for the olive industry, the system fails to take into account the science-backed nutritional benefits of extra virgin olive oil, ranking it as a less-healthy option than refined products such as sunflower and canola oil.

Hear directly from AOA CEO Michael Southan, in his interview with The Country Telegraph last month. A great resource for anyone who wants to better understand this issue and its repercussions.

Industry Liaison Officer (ILO) training, Queensland 

Plant Health Australia will deliver Industry Liaison Officer training in Bundaberg, Queensland, during August.

This training is suitable for industry members and growers, and provides the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively represent industry during biosecurity emergency responses. Participants will:

• Learn about the incident management structure and the critical function of an ILO during a response
• Learn practical skills and understand how ILOs can contribute to a biosecurity response
• Connect with government stakeholders and plant industries.

Learn more about the role of ILOs, or register now. For further information, contact the PHA training team.

TMA welcomes proposed right to repair reforms to support productivity and competition for Australian farmers

The Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) today welcomed the Australian Government’s release of a consultation paper seeking feedback on proposed right to repair reforms for agricultural machinery.

Can farmers become less reliant on synthetic fertiliser? Some are trying

The Middle East is a key market for the fertiliser that Australian farmers rely on to grow crops.

As the war in Iran drags on, supply has become constrained, leading to soaring prices.

Alternatives to imported fertilisers exist, but an agronomist says that synthetic fertiliser remains the only option in many cases.

Australian wheat farmer on the pressures from the Middle East war and Strait of Hormuz closure

An agricultural expert is sounding the alarm on the war in the Middle East saying the Strait of Hormuz needs to open soon before Australian farmers reach a “point of no return”.

What do we know about how changes to family trusts affect farmers?

Half of all Australian farms are held in family trusts, so how will farmers be affected by the federal tax overhaul?

Farmers use trusts to protect their assets, distribute income within their families and ensure the farm can be passed on to the next generation without incurring a large tax bill.

Rainy weather drenching Australia's east could turn May into one of the wettest on record

A series of low-pressure systems is drenching Australia this week, quickly turning this May into one of the wettest on record for parts of the country's east.

International

Climate extremes threaten Mediterranean olive harvests more than rising temperatures

Scientists say increasingly frequent heatwaves, droughts and intense rainfall events are disrupting olive flowering, reducing yields and destabilizing production cycles across the Mediterranean.

Morocco expands olive oil exports to Spain amid production boom

Morocco is emerging as a stronger competitor in Spain’s olive oil market, with export volumes climbing sharply as the country boosts production and upgrades its agricultural infrastructure.

Indian pioneers seek space in import -dominated market

Local olive growers in India are confronting heat, water scarcity and limited consumer awareness as they attempt to establish a domestic extra virgin olive oil industry.

Forget super-intensive cultivation, this is how Spain protects traditional olive groves!

The courage to make choices: additional contributions, direct aid, and lower taxes for Spanish olive oil companies that promote traditional olive growing.

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.

NEW! For Sale: Award-Winning EVOO, WA

Agronomic practices emerge as the real key to carbon-neutral olive groves

A new study suggests Mediterranean olive groves could approach carbon neutrality when growers return sufficient organic matter to the soil through cover crops and biomass recycling.

Untraceable extra virgin olive oil, new major seizure

The Guardia di Finanza seized two tons of oil produced and packaged for a northern Italian company at a bottling plant in Puglia.

Olive oil From Lesvos, Greece: Economy, cuisine and culture

The story of olive oil from Lesvos, Greece stretches back through centuries of cultivation and production that strongly influenced the island’s economy, environment, and way of life. The unique flavors of the island’s olive oil anchor local cuisine, while its enduring traditions now inspire a growing number of agrotourism and food tourism experiences.

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.

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