CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
Lake Garda olive cultivation between tradition and change
Garda olive oil is one of the symbols of the territory, appreciated for its unique organoleptic characteristics, the result of a microclimate that has allowed olive cultivation for centuries even at northern latitudes. However, climate change is altering this delicate balance: increasingly mild winters, dry summers, extreme events such as cloudbursts and hailstorms are putting local olive companies in difficulty. Videlle Bionatura has implemented over the years a series of strategies to counter the repercussions of climate change on the productivity of our olive groves.
Soil management: an ally against erosion and drought
The morainic hills and slopes around Lake Garda are sensitive to erosion and runoff. Techniques such as permanent grassing and cover crops are particularly suitable: they protect soils from intense rainfall, reduce nutrient loss and improve organic matter. Sowing in the inter-rows of our olive groves with varieties of Leguminosae and Brassicaceae helps to enrich the soil with nutritive elements such as nitrogen and sulfur, improve fertility, reducing the attack of root-knot nematodes. In an area of high landscape value, these practices also have a positive impact on the territory’s image, enhancing biodiversity on our soils and favoring the development of pollinating insects.
Water resource: efficiency and conservation
Heat waves and rainfall scarcity are making water stress situations more frequent for Garda olive trees. Irrigation systems with drip lines allow efficient use of scarce water resources. The Ceroso pond present in our company represents an effective strategic solution for accumulating water reserves in winter months, to be used in summer as well as being a characterizing element of our business complex.
Protection from extreme events and defense against biotic adversities
Garda olive trees are particularly vulnerable to late frosts, sudden summer hailstorms and wind gusts, events that can compromise flowering and fruit development, with direct repercussions on production. Aware of these challenges, our company has chosen to invest in innovative solutions by adopting multifunctional nets: not only effective protection against hail, but also a tool capable of providing shade and reducing thermal stress, thus contributing to the resilience and quality of cultivation. Alongside climatic risks, in recent years the pressures of biotic adversities have increased. The olive fly (Bactrocera oleae), favored by hot and humid summers, can seriously compromise the quality of drupes, reducing yield and oil value. To this is added the increasingly widespread presence of the Asian stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), which with its stings damages olives that are not yet fully developed. In this context, the use of anti-insect nets represents an innovative and effective strategy: they create a physical barrier that hinders the entry of parasites into olive groves, drastically reducing infestations and allowing the reduction of phytopharmaceutical use. In addition to ensuring healthier and environmentally friendly production, the nets also improve the image of Garda oil as a quality product, sustainable and closely linked to the landscape.
Engineering, digitalization and training
An increasingly central role for the adaptation of Garda olive cultivation is played by new digital technologies. Our company has an Elaisian weather station, which allows us to collect real-time data and transform it into concrete operational indications, behaving like a true DSS (Decision Support System). This tool helps us in choosing strategies to adopt, from irrigation management to phytosanitary defense, reducing risks and waste. The adoption of agrometeorological software and water balance models also allows us to predict irrigation needs, optimize water use and plan targeted phytosanitary interventions, avoiding unnecessary treatments and improving defense effectiveness. Similarly, phenological monitoring systems allow precise identification of olive development, so as to optimally choose the exact moment for harvest. Precision agriculture, thanks to sensors and decision support systems, represents a frontier capable of facing climate change and its repercussions on olive oil production and quality.
Lake Garda olive cultivation, in addition to having strong economic relevance, is an integral part of local cultural and landscape identity. Climate change adaptation strategies are therefore not only a productive necessity, but a guarantee of continuity for the entire territory, which derives environmental, tourist and food and wine value from the olive tree. The commitment to sustainable strategic practices represents the guarantee that the Garda olive heritage, with its beauty and the quality of its oil, can remain a reference point for future generations as well.