This summer cropping season is facing unprecedented challenges in fertiliser supply. Availability of MAP fertiliser (monoammonium phosphate) and DAP fertiliser (diammonium phosphate) is expected to remain extremely limited worldwide, with serious implications for growers planning their nutrient programs.

The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is a small, evergreen tree in the Oleaceae family and is native to the Mediterranean region. It has been cultivated for millennia and holds deep historical and cultural significance. In fact, olives are among the oldest fruit trees domesticated by humans, first cultivated around 6,000–8,000 years ago in the Eastern Mediterranean. From there, olive cultivation spread throughout the Mediterranean Basin....

The Australian olive oil industry has experienced rapid growth over the past three decades, evolving into a significant agricultural sector. With rising domestic demand, a strong export presence, and a reputation for high-quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), understanding the distribution of olive trees across the country provides essential insight into production capacity and regional specialisations.

Mechanical trunk shakers have transformed olive harvesting in modern olive groves. A new study: Damping behaviour of olive trees under trunk shaking (Ghonimy, Alharbi & Ibrahim, 2025) provides growers with the first detailed breakdown of how vibration energy moves through olive trees and the soil beneath them. The findings reveal how attachment height, trunk diameter, and the tree-soil interaction determine whether ...

Trunk shakers apply forced vibration at the tree trunk, which propagates through the canopy and detaches ripe olives. However, the success of this process isn't solely dependent on the machine’s frequency or power. The geometry of the tree itself... particularly the inclination angle of its branches... plays a pivotal role in determining how efficiently that vibration moves through the canopy.....

As the world's leading olive oil producer, Spain plays a pivotal role in the global market, contributing around 40-50% of worldwide supply. After a challenging period marked by droughts and extreme temperatures that halved production in recent years, the 2024/2025 harvest signaled a strong recovery. Now, with the 2025/2026 crop year on the horizon, industry experts and producers are optimistic about sustained growth. This article explores the ...

Mechanical tree shakers are the backbone of modern olive and nut harvesting, delivering the high-frequency vibrations needed to detach fruit efficiently. But the same forces that maximise yield also put extreme stress on the machine itself. Without a structured preventive-maintenance program, vibration can quickly loosen fasteners, wear through hydraulic hoses, rub down electrical insulation, and accelerate pump and bearing failure.

The International Olive Council (IOC) has recently updated its trade standard, which sets the world’s benchmark for olive oil quality. These standards are what laboratories and authorities use to decide if an oil is “extra virgin”, “virgin” or “lampante” and whether it can be sold in export markets. In June 2025, the European Union formally supported a series of major testing changes at the 121st IOC Council of Members meeting. These changes ..

Olive orchards worldwide include traditional (density below 250 trees/ha) & more intensive (800 trees/ha) systems, with trunk shakers commonly used for mechanical harvesting in both. According to the International Olive Council (IOC) data from 2023, traditional orchards account for over 70% of global plantings, while intensive ones represent 25%. Variability in tree geometry, such as branch inclination, influences vibration propagation...

Despite its modest scale in global olive oil production, Australia continues to play an increasingly strategic role in the global supply chain... thanks to its quality-driven focus and growing domestic appetite for premium extra virgin olive oil.