Caracterización del olivar de montaña Andaluz para la implementación de los Contratos Territoriales de Zona Rural

Abstract

The mountainous olive production systems are experiencing a deep crisis that threatens the continuity of the farming, especially in marginal productive areas. The abandonment of the olive production on sloping lands would cause a multitude of adverse effects which extend over the economic, social, environmental and cultural resources of the affected areas. In this paper we suggest the use of a collective agrienviromental contract to promote the diffusion of the organic farming as production system which can increase farmers’ financial returns whilst conserving the environment. To do that we characterize the mountainous olive orchard in Andalusia from the economic, social and environmental perspectives. We identify the areas where the shift to organic production would provide greater benefit to society and as such where policy maker should prioritize the financial support to the olive production system.