The Spanish Association of Olive Municipalities (AEMO), made up of 160 olive-growing municipalities and provinces across Spain, presented the awards for its 2nd AEMO Contest for the Best Environmental Management of Olive Groves and Oil Mills in Spain last April at the headquarters of the International Olive Council (IOC). This competition, aimed at recognizing the best sustainable practices in the olive sector, awarded the first prize ex aequo for the most sustainable olive groves to Cortijo Guadiana and El Valle del Conde, while Oro del Desierto Oil Mill was recognized as the most sustainable oil mill.
The Regenerative Farm Valle del Conde, located in the heart of the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park, was awarded for its focus on regenerative agriculture. On its 227 hectares of mountain olive groves, it cultivates olive varieties such as Picudo and Picual using agroforestry systems that enhance the biodiversity of the environment. The management of ground cover is carried out through the controlled grazing of 1,200 sheep, which helps minimize soil erosion even on steep slopes.
“What we’re doing is nothing new; it’s about correcting the historical mistake of separating agriculture from livestock farming, which is when we became slaves to the big companies that sell agricultural inputs,” explains Francisco Ruiz, technical director of this estate in Córdoba, now a benchmark in biodiversity regeneration and the fight against climate change through soil restoration, the reestablishment of relationships among living beings, and scientific knowledge.
El Valle del Conde is a 230-hectare mountainous enclave where hills and peaks blend into a landscape dominated by olive groves and complemented by Mediterranean forest.
This system allows for the controlled grazing of the ground cover between olive rows, using mobile pens spread across the estate. The animals are moved according to a pre-designed system that prevents both overgrazing and undergrazing, which can be equally harmful to soil life and plants.
The ecology of grazing and soil-plant-herbivore interaction multiplies the ecosystem services derived from this practice:
The natural resources of the estate, in this case the pastures, are used to feed the livestock.
Plant pollination is encouraged: during flowering seasons, pollen sticks to the sheep’s wool and is transported across the estate.
Manure facilitates seed dispersion across parcels, resulting in more biodiverse grasslands.
All this movement unavoidably shapes the topography and vegetation structure, making it richer, more nutritious, and more abundant. In turn, this benefits other animals (both large and microscopic), significantly increasing biodiversity.
Pastures need ruminants to stay healthy and efficient. Grasses must be grazed to regenerate effectively and fix atmospheric carbon into the soil.
This system is also highly beneficial for the environment, as it greatly reduces fire risk in summer.
Carbon sequestration is enhanced, helping mitigate climate change.
The estate also stands out for its pest monitoring, with 20 surveillance stations, and for promoting biodiversity by maintaining a natural balance with local wildlife, including birds of prey, reptiles, rodents, foxes, and wild boars.
Sources: www.aemo.es; www.elpais.es; www.valledelconde.com; 27th May, 2025
