How Does Climate Change Affect The Quality Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil?

All of these drastic changes to our vulnerable ecosystems, from terrestrial to marine, are forecasted to have widespread negative impacts as time goes by and climate change continues to accelerate.

Specifically, how global warming and climate change can over time lead to higher overall temperatures which could, in turn, cause rising sea levels and subsequent flooding, leading millions to lose their homes while imparting untold devastation to plants, animals, and our valuable farmlands.

So, how does the threat of climate change affect the food that we grow, particularly the olives we use to make olive oil?

When it comes to agriculture, growing and harvesting food has always been at the mercy of ever-changing weather patterns. Drought, excessive rainfall, and extreme temperatures can make or break a season’s crop, which can not only lead to decreased productivity but also increased food insecurity for people.

Simply put, the less food that is produced the less food that is available for human consumption and the more expensive that food becomes. All it takes is a few weeks of flooding rains or weeks of unending drought to completely destroy a season of valuable crops.

In 2019, Italy’s olive oil production saw its worst olive oil season in 25 years with a 57% drop in overall production.

Olive Oil trees across the country were hit with a variety of climate-related events, from excessive rainfall, unexpected frosts, and summer droughts leading many scientists to conclude that these extreme weather events were a direct result of climate change.

When olive oil trees are hit with extreme temperature (either hot or cold) along with erratic or non-existent rainfall, plant development can be irreversibly harmed. Also, when exposed to extreme weather events, olive oil trees can become weakened enough to make them vulnerable to pests such as the olive fly and they can become susceptible to fungal infestations.

The bottom line: climate change plays a pivotal role in olive oil production and producers need to find creative ways to mitigate the effects of this ever-growing crisis.

At Vignoli, we have found a way to address the threat of climate change so we can source only the highest quality olives that are used to make our extra virgin olive oils.

Unlike many other olive oil producers who grow and harvest their olives from a single grove, at Vignoli we have the ability to source our olives from more than just a single farm.

In fact, we source our olives from trusted farms found all over Italy, which allows us the distinct advantage of being able to select only the very best, top-quality olives used to create our exceptional extra virgin olive oil.

While single olive oil producers might be at the mercy of a potentially poor growing season or an unexpected climate catastrophe that could devastate their entire harvest, at Vignoli, we get to pick and choose which producers we work with based on current climate conditions, weather forecasts, and projected growing seasons (and, trust us, we only choose the very best!).

This adaptability allows us to circumvent any regional growing areas that might be experiencing unstable climate conditions, disease, or poor harvest and instead choose olive producers who are experiencing successful harvests in ideal growing conditions. This flexibility allows us to produce the exceptional extra virgin olive oils that we are known for.

Come and taste the Vignoli difference, where adaptation and versatility make our olive oils extra special!