EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON OLIVE CULTIVATION AND TABLE OLIVE AND OLIVE OIL QUALITY

Climate change is undoubtedly the most imminent environmental issue the world is facing today. Climate changes could heavily affect olive oil producing areas, especially in the Mediterranean basin. Olive trees are tougher than vines and can thrive on many different terrains and under various climate conditions. Researchers reported that a key area of Spanish olive oil production in Catalonia may become unviable within 20 years due to these increasing temperatures and water shortages. Extreme temperatures pose risks for olive production. The Mediterranean basin region, where more than 90% of the world's olive oil is produced is expected to be exposed to higher temperatures in the future due to global climate changes, which caused unfavorable growing conditions and showed negative effects on oil production and quality. According to result of studies there is an urgent need for approaches to estimate the consequence of climate change and its effects on olive quantity and quality of olive oil and table olive. This research was aimed to present result of studies which focused on effects of climate change on olive growing and production and also quality of table olive and olive oil products.