Olive Yields in Spain After 2023 Heatwave

Olives in Ronda, Spain

We left Granada, driving along the coast through Malaga. The greenhouses became fewer and sparser, and as we wove our way back up into the hills, we were surrounded again by olives. In Ronda, we visited a 200 year-old olive farm with more than 20 varieties, employing both groundwater-irrigated and rainfed cropping methods.

The drought in Spain has resulted in an estimated ~50% decline in olive yield in 2023. The olives in Ronda were a week or two from harvest when we toured, with the yield hanging in the balance. When we asked about the effects of the drought, our guide’s voice lowered… “We need one more good rain,” he said, to plump up the shriveled olives for harvest.“ Their groundwater supply was strained and could not be pushed any further to make up the shortfall. Olive oil is now 10x more valuable than crude oil, according to a recent Washington Post article. Thefts of olives and olive oil were widely reported.

However, a few varieties of olives on the farm were doing okay. Despite the drought, they were plump and healthy. We asked our guide if they planned to replace drought-sensitive olive varieties with more drought-tolerant varieties as a long-term climate adaptation strategy. He was unsure. However, zero rain fell in the region in the weeks following our visit.

As conditions become more extreme, some crop varieties will perform better than others. Cloudseed Inc. can help identify climate-resilient crops, for next year and into the future.

A variety of olives that aren’t as heat stressed 10 feet away from a variety that is heat stressed (see below)

Heat stressed olives