A desktop audit has shown that in SA there will be about 2 million olive trees with a potential production of about 10,000 tonnes of olive oil and 6,000 tonnes of table olives within 8 years.
The Australian consumer is becoming increasingly aware of the virtues of olive oil, including the reported benefits to human health.
This project aims to increase the understanding of olive varietal performance in Australia. Growers will have greater confidence in choosing olive varieties to suit their particular requirements. The project is jointly funded by the olive industry, RIRDC and PIRSA.
A survey of the parasitoid fauna of black scale, Saissetia oleae (Olivier), in olive groves located across five South Australian districts was undertaken during March to May 2005.
This report was compiled by John Fennell, Principal Horticulturist, and details his observations and findings whilst on an olive study tour of Morocco and Spain in November 2007.