Field-Driven Insight: Olive Trials in Southern Spain

Spain accounts for 40% of global olive oil production. 

To truly understand the impact of this scale, the ADAMA Espańa team visited the olive-growing heartlands of Córdoba and Jaén.

Iberia’s dry, hot summers and low rainfall create ideal conditions for olive cultivation at scale. Nearly two million hectares of groves, from centuries old trees to modern mechanized systems, represent both cultural heritage and economic strength.

“The main objective of the visit was to highlight the strategic importance of olive groves in Iberia and share a comprehensive overview of the crop with our European colleagues,” said Antonio Llorente García, Product Development Manager, ADAMA Espańa. 

Delivering on that objective meant first listening to those closest to the crop.

Grounded in Grower Reality

In-field conversations revealed what matters most to growers: effective, persistent disease control and solutions adapted to diverse production systems. The challenges vary widely when comparing 400-year-old traditional groves to modern high-density plantations. 

Growers voiced concerns about limited fungicide options and the need for alternatives to copper-based products, particularly where persistent control of key and emerging disease is required.

Copper remains a cornerstone of many programs, but its repeated use can raise soil accumulation concerns, application limits and increasing regulatory pressure across parts of Europe. In seasons marked by prolonged humidity or repeated infection cycles, its shorter persistence can also leave gaps in protection, increasing production risk.

As Narciso Ramírez Pérez, Technical Marketing Manager, ADAMA Espańa, noted: “Growers need fungicides that provide persistent control of key diseases like Fusicladium oleagina and emerging threats such as Pseudomonas savastanoi.”

These discussions reinforced a critical truth: innovation must start with real-world problems, not assumptions.

Trials Tell the Story

The team visited olive field trials comparing future fungicide solutions under authentic growing conditions, across both traditional groves and high-density production systems. While systems varied, disease pressure this season remained low—revealing baseline efficacy, crop tolerance and consistency under reduced stress.

“The visit was mainly a technical learning experience, highlighting the importance of context in interpreting product behavior,” said Llorente.

Beyond the trials, the group examined orchard management, harvesting systems and irrigation practices, all of which influence how crop protection strategies are applied in practice.

The differences were evident. Long-established groves continue to rely largely on manual operations, while high-density plantations are built around mechanization, reflecting a broader shift in orchard design and management.

Turning Insight into Action

Insights from this visit are already influencing the ADAMA Espańa team’s next steps. Future trials will expand to cover additional diseases, and technical communication will reflect the diversity of cultivation methods.

“We need to test the effectiveness of our fungicides on the main diseases affecting olive groves and communicate in a way that is adapted to different systems,” emphasized Ramírez.

This collaborative approach, bringing Marketing, Development and Registration together in the field, strengthens alignment and ensures that the products we deliver are grounded in grower reality. 

The Road Ahead

Spain stands at the heart of the global olive oil industry. By listening closely to growers, learning from field trials and delivering locally relevant solutions, we are building trust and technical credibility where it matters most: in the field.

That’s our Listen > Learn > Deliver promise.