09 February 2024


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

Today's Top Story

Earth's warmest January on record extends run of unprecedented temperatures to eight months

Last month was the hottest January on record. (ABC News: Kenith Png)

 

Global temperatures through January were the warmest on record at 1.66 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to data released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

Australia

Could farmers get a fairer deal with the supermarkets if there was a mandatory code of conduct? 


The ACCC is investigating the disparity between supermarket check-out prices and farmgate prices and one thing it could recommend is a mandatory code of conduct. But would it make the market fairer for growers?

Coles makes its defence on supermarket prices to Senate inquiry

Public hearings into Coles and Woolworths are expected to be held in the coming weeks, before the Senate committee reports back in May. (ABC News: Charlie McLean)

Coles has laid down its defence to painful increases in the cost of groceries, pointing to price rises from suppliers and farmers as a key driver for why Australians are paying more at the check-out.


And one more on the topic …

Allan Fels's ACTU initiated price gouging report calls for government to act against exploitative practices of big business


Banks, supermarkets, aviation and energy companies are exploiting their market power in ways that drive up inflation and hurt Australian households, according to the former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The economic and environmental reasons why farmers should stop killing or removing snakes

There could be as many as 100 snakes in just one square kilometre of farmland. (ABC South East SA: Elsie Adamo)


Usually snakes are unwelcome visitors on farms, but experts want that to change that. Instead of being seen as a nuisance, Macquarie University professor of evolutionary biology Rick Shine said they were actually a real asset, keeping vermin levels down.


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 Anama, who has an olive business for sale or lease. 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.

Farmers are protesting in France, Belgium and across Europe. What changes do they want the European Union to make?


Tractors are being used to block highways across France and Belgium as farmers' protests gain momentum throughout Europe. Protesters are angry about rising costs, environmental policies and cheap food imports.


One of the farmers’ complaints is that they're losing to rivals from countries with fewer constraints and lower costs. We know a little about that.

Farm machinery insurance premiums soar as extreme weather events become more frequent


Farmers are considering running the gauntlet and leaving machinery uninsured as premiums go through the roof. Some farmers have told the ABC that insurance premiums have more than doubled in the past four years, and people are now paying insurance bills north of $100,000.

Opportunities

Applications open soon for 2024 Hort Innovation Churchill Fellowships

Hort Innovation has partnered with the Churchill Trust to develop tomorrow’s industry leaders by offering specific Hort Innovation Churchill Fellowships for international research on a topic related to horticulture.

Topics must provide clear benefit to the Australian horticulture sector and, ultimately, to the wider community; and be transformational in nature for the horticulture industry in general. For projects that are specific to a particular horticultural industry, the applicant must be from a registered levy-paying Australian horticulture business in that industry. 

Churchill Fellowships fund Australians from all walks of life so they can travel overseas and investigate an issue or topic they are passionate about, then share their findings when they return.

The 2024 application round opens on 1 March and closes on 1 May. Find out more here

Share your story to Food and Grocery Code of Conduct Review

The recent intense public and political focus on the behaviour of the major supermarket retailers has led to the government instigating the 2023–24 Review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. The inquiry, looking into price setting practices and market power of major supermarkets, is now open for consultation and the Select Committee on Supermarket Prices is seeking feedback from growers and other parties regarding their experiences. 

Please note: Any information used in the inquiry or in Parliament is protected by parliamentary privilege. This means general information provided cannot be used as evidence in legal proceedings against the person who provides it.

until 29 February 2024. Have a look through the consultation paper here and see how to respond here.

You can also submit feedback anonymously into the Australian Greens confidential portal here.

Events

Matakana Olive Co-operative Webinar

The AOA’s extension program for 2024 started off on a high note this week, with strong attendance – and great Q&A - at Wednesday’s informative webinar: Co-ops 101 for Olive Growers, exploring the opportunities provided by co-operative business operations.

There’s more on the topic happening later this month, with a follow-up webinar on the Matakana Olive Co-operative.

This webinar will build on the foundation information on co-operatives, with Mahurangi Olives (New Zealand) owner David Sullivan sharing his experience of the successful Matakana Olive Co-operative in practice.

Over its lifetime, Matakana Olive Co-operative encompassed between four and ten groves, ranging in size from 1200 trees down to a few hundred, with a total of around 2,500 trees. Members maintained and harvested their own groves, with the oil pressed at the one mill. The combined oil stock was evaluated, filtered, stored and bottled by members in a central purpose-built facility, and sold under the Matakana Olive Co-operative label, with members paid from the net proceeds of sales based on their percentage of the total for the harvest period.

Run as a collective, the Matakana Olive Co-operative provided a shared-cost, viable production and distribution model for a regional group of boutique olive oil producers.

Details:

Monday, 19 February, 11.00am AEDT

Register here.

GROWER TO GROWER


Have a question? Need some advice? Ask a fellow grower!

 

The FOE team regularly hears from growers with questions about grove or production practices, or equipment, that they just can’t find the answers to. They’re things other producers are likely know about and/or experienced themselves. So we’ve set up a new Friday Olive Extracts feature, Grower to Grower, where you can send your questions and have them answered by your peers.

Just send the details to editor@olivegrower.com.au and we’ll put them out to the Friday Olive Extracts community - that’s thousands of readers across the globe.


International

Production in Spain expected to fall short of initial estimates


Production estimates range from 680,000 to 755,000 tons for the 2023/24 crop year, below expectations at the start of the harvest.

Agricultural groups call on Spanish government to step up climate change response

Andalusia, Spain

 

The Coordinator of Agriculture and Livestock Organizations (COAG), a farmers’ union, has admonished the Spanish government for reducing funding for agricultural insurance in its December 2023 budget, a significant tool used to fight the effects of climate change.

Oleocampo's 3,500 members overcome harvest challenges with quality intact


Farmers in the massive Jaén-based cooperative sacrificed yield for a tenth straight year of award-winning quality.

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

Now that we’re back after the break, the Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) team will continue to bring all the latest industry news and events to your Inbox every week during 2024. 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!

Hazelnut meal will be turned into olive oil


Hazelnut pulp proteins will return to the table as an alternative oil. Thanks to the study, which was also supported by TÜBİTAK ARDEB 1001, a healthy olive oil product in spreadable form will be obtained by using proteins to be isolated from hazelnut pulp. 


A great idea, creating a solid vegetable spread from hazelnut pulp and olive oil, but not the miracle transformation that the header suggests!

Balıkesir uses latest tech to preserve olive trees


A comprehensive effort to safeguard olive trees unfolds in the northwestern province of Balıkesir as approximately 180,000 olive trees in 1,750 parcels of land have been taken under protection by the General Directorate of Foundations after meticulous aerial and ground tracking using the latest technology.

Moment of the Day: Extra virgin olive oil

This TV panel discussion on the meaning of ‘extra virgin’ needed an expert on the topic. They get that ‘virgin’ means untouched but apparently the ‘extra’ means it’s had ‘more processing, more purification’.

Farmers on small Italian islands restore ancient groves and local production


Growers on Giglio Island and Capri are restoring centuries-old olive trees to revive a fading culture and protect unique island landscapes.

2023


19 February

AOA Webinar: Matakana Olive Co-operative

www.olivebiz.com.au


17 March

Olives WA EVOO tasting workshop – York, WA

entries@oliveswa.com


To include your event, or update your existing event details, email FOE editor Gerri Nelligan at editor@olivegrower.com.au

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