OLB in the news; Winter heatwave; Spain predicts recovery;

30 August 2024

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

Today's top story

As olive oil prices soar, could this native insect threaten Australian production?

Black tar spots may develop on the surface of leaves as a result of the lace bug.

Extra-virgin olive oil producers fear that a native sap-sucking insect may place added pressure on the industry already impacted by rising labour costs and climate change.

Olive lace bug is currently one of the most serious issues for olive growers, so this is another timely reminder that vigilance around monitoring and treatment is crucial for control. There’s information to assist with both in the IPDM project resources on the AOA’s OliveBiz website here.

Australia

Changes to workplace laws now in place

Changes to workplace laws commenced on 26 August 2024 as part of the Closing Loopholes reforms. They include changes to casual employment and a new right to disconnect. These could impact you or your workplace.

Find out more on the Fair Work website here.

While we’re on employees …

From Left Field: Belle Binder is revolutionising the labour hire industry

Belle Binder, a leading voice in sustainable farming. Through innovative solutions like the Farm Work Loop, she’s providing stability and growth opportunities for both workers and farmers. Image: AgriFutures

In the world of agriculture, where labour shortages and misconceptions of farm work are commonplace, Belle Binder stands out as a trailblazer. Through her innovative company based in Tasmania, Left Field, she has revolutionised the labour hire industry with the creation of the Farm Work Loop – a system that not only fills staffing gaps but also uplifts communities and transforms lives.

AOA memberships now overdue: renew now for continued discount eligibility

AOA membership renewals for 2024-2025 were emailed in early July, so if you haven’t paid yours to date please action payment as soon as possible.

Along with industry advocacy and representation at government level, membership of the national peak industry body, the Australian Olive Association (AOA), provides financial members with a wealth of direct benefits, including:

heavily discounted rates on National Olive Industry Conference & Exhibition registrations;
discounted ticket prices for the Australian International Olive Awards Presentation Dinner;
the opportunity to participate in the OliveCare® Code of Best Practice program, which provides assistance with queries on grove management, production, storage and other quality parameters; also access to the OliveCare® certification program;
access to the AOA website’s Members Lounge and information on a broad range of industry-relevant topics, including step-by-step labelling guides and a readable version of the Australian Standard 5264-2011.

If you haven’t received your renewal, please contact Liz at secretariat@australianolives.com.au for a replacement copy and then pay promptly to ensure your continued eligibility for these and many more significant member discounts.

Reminder: The membership discounts for the events above can only be applied for current financial members, so make sure you’ve renewed before you sign up!

Not an AOA member yet?

Find out more and apply to join at the AOA website - www.australianolives.com.au - or contact Administration Manager Elizabeth Bouzoudis at secretariat@australianolives.com.au.

Connection assistance via Regional Tech Hub

The Regional Tech Hub (the Hub) was launched in December 2020 to provide independent and factual information to help people in regional and rural Australia get connected and stay connected more easily.

The Hub provides a range of practical resources aimed at helping regional consumers find appropriate telecommunications services in their area, as well as troubleshooting tips, escalating faults with service providers and helping users to understand their consumer rights.

Find out more here.

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. 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.

Heatwave brings Australia's winter weather to an abrupt end as climate change up-ends the seasons

Winter has been up-ended by unseasonably warm weather, and climate experts say it is part of a worrying trend. (Supplied: Matt Wiseman)

On Sunday afternoon, Australians across the country basked in the glorious winter sunshine.

The blossoms had sprung early, in Melbourne the footy was played in 24 degrees, and the ski fields mourned as heavy rain killed the remainder of another poor snow season.

Opportunities

*For growers with hives in your production mix:

TAS: Varroa Mite Management Program Training Workshops

The National Varroa Mite Management Program is hosting a series of workshops to provide beekeepers with the latest information on Varroa mite and managing Varroa mite in hives.

Details:

Launceston – Saturday, 31 August, 9am-3pm - Launceston Conference Centre

Hobart – Saturday, 7 September, 9am-3pm - Claremont RSL

Devonport – Saturday, 14 September, 9am-3pm - Devonport Country Club

Attendance is free, and morning tea/lunch are included.

Find out more and register here.

Kickstarting careers in Ag

Agriculture has so many career pathways, from animal husbandry, developing and operating state-of-the-art machinery and technology, to business, marketing and STEM research and analysis.

If you’re 17-25, AgCAREERSTART is a unique gap-year program that provides you with a paid job, training and development, not to mention the opportunity to build your networks within the agriculture industry.

Applicants can indicate which farm type they’d prefer from a wide variety, and also where in Australia they would ideally like to go. A matching process is undertaken to ensure participants are assigned to the type of farms that match their interests and skills.

Applications close on 29 September. Find out more and apply here.

Events

Registration is now open for the 2024 AOA National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition, being held in Bendigo, VIC from 23-25 October.

This year’s program includes:

Plenary sessions
EVOO blending workshop
Trade exhibition
Conference Dinner
Field tour - Wednesday 23 (optional – additional ticket required)
2024 Australian International Olive Awards Presentation Dinner – Friday 25 (optional – additional ticket required)

Find out more and register here

The National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition is facilitated by the Australian Olive Association, partially funded by Hort Innovation using the Olive R&D levy, with in-kind contributions from the Australian Olive Association and funding from the Australian Government. The event is also supported by a range of industry sponsors and exhibitors, the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the Victorian Government.

It’s time for judging of the 2024 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) – will you be on the stage in October?

Entries have now closed for the 2024 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) and the competition organisers are hard at work preparing for judging by expert panels across the globe.

The winners will be announced at a gala Presentation Dinner in Bendigo on 25 October, held in conjunction with the National Olive Conference & Exhibition. Will your EVOO, Flavoured Olive Oil or Table Olives be named 2024 Best of Show?

Don’t miss the chance to be there as the winners are announced, and accept your trophy: book your AIOA Presentation Dinner tickets here now and join your peers as we celebrate the best olive products and producers of 2024.

2024 Platinum Sponsor

AgEnviro Labs

New Zealand

Olives NZ EVOO Certification

Olives New Zealand EO Emma Glover reports that, despite many members reporting a poor or no harvest, there have still been a good number of oils submitted for Certification this year. Results tested so far are showing low FFAs and some very high Polyphenols.

Certification is necessary for NZ EVOO Awards entry, and tomorrow – 31 August – is the last day for Certification submissions, so if you haven’t submitted your oil/s yet, get moving! Information is available in the Members section of the Olives NZ website, or contact Emma at admin@olivesnz.org.nz.

2024 NZ EVOO Awards entries closing soon

Entries are open for the 2024 NZ EVOO Awards, the country’s premier olive oil competition.

Run by the peak representative body, Olives New Zealand, the NZ EVOO Awards recognises excellence in New Zealand extra virgin olive oils, rewards growers for their hard work and benchmarks individual oils against the industry.

Entry packs should have been received by members but if you haven’t received one, please contact the Executive Officer and she’ll get one out to you stat.

Entries close 6 September – don’t miss out!

International

Prices on olive oil might go down soon

After two years of extreme heat and drought in Spain causing olive oil production to plummet and prices to rise, Spanish news media El Economista claims crisis is coming to an end. Industry forecasts now predict a strong recovery in the upcoming campaign, starting in October, with production expected to reach between 1.4 and 1.7 million tonnes. This increase is anticipated to bring prices down to around five euros per liter.

While in another part of Europe …

Drought in Italy threatens olive oil production - media

Italy is expected to see a significant decline in the olive harvest due to drought. In the Puglia region, which accounts for 50% of the national olive oil production, the harvest may decrease by 50-80% compared to last year.

Which unfortunately means we’ll probably see more of this …

Italian police official explains how olive oil fraud works

As the ways in which olive oil fraud is perpetrated have evolved, law enforcement has worked hard to keep up.

Olive stones find afterlife as carbon-neutral composite fillers

The byproduct of olive oil production can deliver texture, grip, and mechanical strength in automotive and other applications.

Extra virgin olive oil as fine as wine in Greek restaurants

Chefs at the 2nd International ELIA Lesvos Confest in Greece discussed recent trends in the use and presentation of olive oil in gastronomy. Photo: ELIA Lesvos Confest / by Dimitris Talianis

In certain upscale restaurants in Greece (some in five-star hotels), extra virgin olive oil is now being elevated to the level of fine wine. So at the 2nd International ELIA Lesvos Confest in Greece, chefs discussed recent trends in the use and presentation of olive oil in gastronomy, such as olive oil menus, olive oil bars, and even olive oil sommeliers.

Buenos Aires province sees significant growth in olive oil production

Olive oil production is rising slowly but steadily in the Province of Buenos Aires, fueled by new olive trees planted in the Coronel Dorrego district.

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

We’re now well over half-way through the year and the Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) team continues 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!

Gut Scientist 'Shocked' by One-Month Transformation on Mediterranean Diet

Jordan Haworth, a gut scientist, undertook a personal experiment to evaluate the effects of the Mediterranean diet on his health, documenting his journey on TikTok under the handle @mrguthealth.

During his video, the accredited practitioner with a focus on diet and the gut microbiome, shares screenshots of his results and how his "health changed" in just 31 days.

Leveraging AI to enhance olive oil quality, efficiency and trust

AI generated image.

AI has been improving olive farming for a decade, enhancing efficiency, decision-making, traceability, and sustainability. Recent advancements include predictive pricing, pest control, and personalized marketing.