The seminar, led by Antonio Díaz Aguilar of Agroconsulting, focused on the use of sensors and precision technologies to optimise irrigation and fertilisation in olive groves.
The University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils (INUO) at the University of Jaén has organised, as part of the OliveOilMedNet project, the seminar ‘Sustainable precision agriculture in olive groves: fertigation’, a training event focusing on the new tools and technologies available to improve the efficiency and sustainability of olive grove management.
The session, led by Antonio Díaz Aguilar from the company Agroconsulting, provided an in-depth look at the possibilities offered by precision agriculture for optimising the use of resources on olive farms, with a particular focus on water and nutrient management.
One of the main topics covered during the seminar was the use of sensors in olive groves as a tool for obtaining accurate information on soil conditions and crop requirements. These systems enable the monitoring of various parameters and provide data that facilitates decision-making better tailored to the actual conditions of each plot.
In this regard, the seminar highlighted the potential of sensors and monitoring systems to move towards more efficient irrigation, making it possible to adjust both the timing and the amount of water supplied according to the olive trees’ water requirements. This data-driven management helps to avoid unnecessary watering and improves the use of a resource that is particularly important for the sustainability of the crop.
The seminar, held at the former Teacher Training College, also addressed fertigation, analysing the possibilities offered by the application of nutrients via the irrigation system. Combining data from sensors with irrigation systems enables more precise fertilisation strategies to be devised, tailored to the crop’s needs and aimed at improving the efficiency of fertiliser use.
During the event, the importance of integrating the various technological tools available was also highlighted, with a view to moving towards olive grove management models in which decision-making is increasingly supported by data obtained directly from the farm. Precision agriculture is thus presented as a means of improving production efficiency whilst reducing consumption and promoting more sustainable resource management.
In short, this activity, which forms part of the ‘Mediterranean Network for the Promotion of Sustainability & Authenticity in the Olive Oil Sector – OliveOilMedNet’ project, is in line with its objective of promoting sustainability and authenticity in the olive oil sector through cooperation, training and the exchange of knowledge across the Mediterranean region.
