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Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

nature.com

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Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#21

Post by superflyguy »

simias wrote: post #13
xbryanx wrote: post #11

Italy has a messy history listening to and even jailing its scientists, as they go about the normal process of empiricism. https://www.nature.com/news/italian-seismologists-cleared-of...

This particular story is embarrassing (although as your article points out, they were eventually cleared) but I don't think it's directly related to the problem at hand. Failing to heed the warnings of scientists is unfortunately not something we can stereotype on Italians alone...

No, but this is unprecedented for a developed country.

Yes, they were eventually cleared. Great. Some doubts remain but it cannot be proved beyond all reasonable doubt that they were witches. Not guilty!

Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#22

Post by andrenotgiant »

Olive Wood is really beautiful and expensive, I wonder if this will drive a decrease in the price of it.

In the US there is a special variety of pine killed by Mountain Pine Beetles that is relatively cheap but liked by woodworkers because the fungus that kills it leaves interesting blue streaks : https://www.sustainablelumberco.com/2015/03/beetle-kill-pine...

Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#23

Post by chicob »

I'm an olive and almond producer in Portugal.

In preparation for this very serious issue, since that the only thing I can do is to minimize the risk of infection, I tell all personnel to spray bleach on trimming scissors for each tree, the case of high density orchards, and for every 10-15 trees (or each row) in super high density orchards.

I also try to monitor for infection vectors like Cicadellidae, and for possible ill trees in the vicinities.

I will report any suspect case to the authorities, be it my neighbours' or my own.

I am also looking for affordable insurance that covers this kind of problem.

Also related to new agricultural issues arising from globalisation and worthy of attention are the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), the water hyacinth (Eichhornia ssp.), and the Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) that obstruct irrigation pipes.

Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#24

Post by grigjd3 »

xbryanx wrote: post #11

Italy has a messy history listening to and even jailing its scientists, as they go about the normal process of empiricism. https://www.nature.com/news/italian-seismologists-cleared-of...

Italy's relationship with science is mired in corruption, enough so that Italian scientists often move away to find jobs.

Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#25

Post by folli »

choot wrote: post #20

I wonder if such bacteria can be designed in a lab. And then used to attack developing countries massive agricultural production. Let's say, china and india are growing export regions. And if American or Russian companies design a specific bacteria to target their major agricultural exports then the prices will go up due to falling supply. So is this possible? Could this be happening somewhere in the world?

It's probably easier to screen for existing bacterial strains that do such a job, instead of designing them.

Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#26

Post by libertine »

chicob wrote: post #23

I'm an olive and almond producer in Portugal. In preparation for this very serious issue, since that the only thing I can do is to minimize the risk of infection, I tell all personnel to spray bleach on trimming scissors for each tree, the case of high density orchards, and for every 10-15 trees (or each row) in super high density orchards. I also try to monitor for infection vectors like Cicadellidae, and for possib…

Portuguese (Alentejano) fellow with some olive trees (not aimed at production) - if this spreads do you think it will start in the south or it won't matter?

Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#27

Post by endorphone »

mlrtime wrote: post #18

I was pretty shocked to learn that most (~80%) of the Italian extra virgin olive oil that comes into the US is neither Italian or olive oil. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-overtime-how-to-buy-...

That article certainly doesn't say that 80% isn't olive oil. Instead it argues that up to 80% doesn't meet the very stringent requirement to be classified as extra-virgin olive oil, often because it's partially mixing with lesser grades (or even simply differently sourced) of olive oil. That's a far cry from wholly substituting.

Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#28

Post by YeGoblynQueenne »

mlrtime wrote: post #18

I was pretty shocked to learn that most (~80%) of the Italian extra virgin olive oil that comes into the US is neither Italian or olive oil. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-overtime-how-to-buy-...

It is olive oil- it's just not extra virgin olive oil, produced by olive flesh (i.e. not the seeds) and only by mechanical extraction (i.e. no heat or chemical processing). The fraud is in the fact that it is advertised as extra virgin, the highest recognised quality, when it's not.

Also, it is Italian, only not purely so. It is often mixed in with oils from other places. The problem is when the mix-ins are from North Africa, e.g. from Morocco, which are considered of inferior quality than the South European oils. Nobody would really mind if Italian oils were mixed in with Spanish or Greek oils, which are considered superior.

Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#29

Post by smackay »

chicob wrote: post #23

I'm an olive and almond producer in Portugal. In preparation for this very serious issue, since that the only thing I can do is to minimize the risk of infection, I tell all personnel to spray bleach on trimming scissors for each tree, the case of high density orchards, and for every 10-15 trees (or each row) in super high density orchards. I also try to monitor for infection vectors like Cicadellidae, and for possib…

I spent a few days in around Beja in Baixo Alentejo this year, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beja,_Portugal The area with new new olive plantations is simply staggering as producers race to capitalize on the shortages in other Mediterranean countries. The fields (in effect, mini prairies) are so large I think this is only going to hasten the spread of disease it will simply be impossible to exercise proper hygiene or quarantine procedures over such large areas.

I wish all growers were as responsible and fore-sighted as you, good luck.

Re: Italy’s olive crisis intensifies as deadly tree disease spreads

#30

Post by YeGoblynQueenne »

superflyguy wrote: post #21
simias wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This particular story is embarrassing (although as your article points out, they were eventually cleared) but I don't think it's directly related to the problem at hand. Failing to heed the warnings of scientists is unfortunately not something we can stereotype on Italians alone...

No, but this is unprecedented for a developed country. Yes, they were eventually cleared. Great. Some doubts remain but it cannot be proved beyond all reasonable doubt that they were witches. Not guilty!

I'm pretty sure the US is considered a developed country and it routinely ignores scientists' warnings about the climate and the environment in general.
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