Olive Oil: 17% drop in production

The Italian production of olive oil is expected to drop 17% in the year 2007-2008. It is the second time we record such a negative trend regarding quantity; a similar situation happened in 1998. The ISMEA(Istituto di Servizo per il Mercato Agricolo Alimentare) made this forecast together with the Union of Producers. On the whole, the production of olive oil might reach 5million Q. According to ISMEA this result is caused by particularly unfavourable weather conditions (mostly during the summer) more than instability in production that has been nearly reduced by the new agronomic techniques (introducing annual lopping) and by the progressive plant modernization. Producers and the ISMEA underline that in addition to this quantitative drop olives have also been picked much earlier than usual. On one side the first data on the extraction of the oil looks disappointing, because of the dry conditions that interfered with the formation of the fats in the drupes; but the quality is very satisfying, thanks to the earlier picking of the olives,and to a reduced number of attacks of parasites. According to the ISMEA and the producers, this drop in production is more evident in central and southern Italy (forecasting a drop of 35-40%). While in the north except for Liguria, the general trend is more promising because of better weather conditions in comparison with the rest of the country. Detailed analysis of a drop in production is forecasted in Apulia (3%) Calabria (30%) and even in Basilicata (20-25%). In Sicily there will be a decrease of 14%, in Sardinia 27% and in Campania, after the worst harvest in 2006, a rise in production (13%) is expected. Even the centre of Italy: Abruzzo, Lazio and Toscana are expecting a drop of 35/40%. The forecast for Marche is even worse. The drop is calculated at around 45%. Conversely, the results are getting better in the north of Italy, both in Veneto and Lombardia, despite the negative influences of the heat, especially near Garda. Dry weather damaged also the drupes in Liguria, where a drop of 13% in oil production is forecasted.