Abstract
Organic Mediterranean olive groves are gradually being abandoned due to their low productivity. But the demand for organic olives and organic olive oil is constantly increasing. Farmers in the Occitanie region of southern France have proposed to analyse with researchers the feasibility of introducing durum wheat and legumes into an olive orchard. Results show that it is technically possible and that improves the profitability of fruit growing. Over the period 2014–2017, the land equivalent ratio reached 1.81 (sum of the relative areas 0.62 for wheat and 1.29 for olives). Compared to natural grass cover, olive production is stimulated by intercropping through minimal tillage and improved soil fertility. The associated durum wheat, while having a reduced yield, is an additional source of income. When durum wheat varieties adapted for agroforestry will be provided by breeders, a higher yield should be obtained, thus contributing to the sustainability of the orchard.
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Acknowledgements
This study was made in the frame of AGFORWARD Project (Grant Agreement No. 613520), co-funded by the European Commission, Directorate General for Research & Innovation, within the 7th Framework Program of RTD, Theme 2 - Biotechnologies, Agriculture & Food.
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Panozzo, A., Bernazeau, B. & Desclaux, D. Durum wheat in organic olive orchard: good deal for the farmers?. Agroforest Syst 94, 707–717 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00441-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00441-0