Achievements and Challenges towards a Sustainable Conservation and Use of ‘Galega vulgar’ Olea europaea Variety

Abstract

The cultivated Olea europaea L., or olive tree, is an ancient crop extremely relevant for the bioeconomy of Mediterranean countries, especially for Portugal. With orchard modernization, Portugal has the potential to become the third-largest producer of olive oil over the next decade. In this country, the main national variety is ‘Galega vulgar,’ characterized by an excellent olive oil quality, rusticity and tolerance to drought. Nevertheless, its production has suffered a reduction due to replacement by foreign varieties. The present narrative review offers an overall perspective of present gaps and challenges to the conservation and use of ‘Galega vulgar.’ Existing information about traditional and innovative olive production systems, and the importance of life cycle thinking approaches for a sustainable olive chain were synthesized, focusing particularly in the last 10 years. Furthermore, the olive molecular characterization advances and their breeding importance were also evaluated considering their application to this Portuguese variety. To ensure an efficient and sustainable exploitation of the ‘Galega vulgar,’ we propose that efforts should concentrate on the characterization of the existing variability and development of genotype to phenotype prediction tools, integrating detailed molecular marker genotypic and environmental characterization, to support better informed conservation and breeding decisions in a multi-environment context.

Engraved Split-Ring Resonators as Potential Microwave Sensors for Olive Oil Quality Control

“…It is noteworthy that more than 75% of the total olive oil production comes from three countries, Spain, Italy, and Greece, while the first seven countries in the global olive oil production list are located around the Mediterranean Sea . Moreover, the annual global olive oil consumption is approximately 2.5–3 megatonnes, which corresponds to a total value of ∼$10–15 billion. Therefore, the olive oil market is a trade market full of challenges and unfair competition.…”

Characterization of Sodium Alginate-Based Films Blended with Olive Leaf and Laurel Leaf Extracts Obtained by Ultrasound-Assisted Technology

“…Olive (Olea europaea L.) is one of the most globally cultivated ancient plants, representing a fundamental cultivar of the Mediterranean region [16]. The cultivation and processing of olives generate a significant volume of by-products and residues annually [17].…”

Assessment of a Side-Row Continuous Canopy Shaking Harvester and Its Adaptability to the Portuguese Cobrançosa Variety in High-Density Olive Orchards

“…The olive tree ( Olea europaea L.) is an age-old crop in the countries in the Mediterranean basin and plays a major role in the economy and the preservation of the territory and landscape of southern European countries such as Portugal [ 1 , 2 ]. Portugal currently ranks ninth in terms of olive production and cultivated olive orchard area, with 722,580 t and 379,440 ha, respectively [ 3 ].…”

“…The characteristics of current olive orchards and the versatility of canopy shakers make their use interesting, as they can be used to harvest traditional and high-density olive trees producing local varieties [ 8 , 17 ]. The use of local varieties also mitigates the genetic erosion effects produced when cultivating specific varieties (usually ‘Arbequina’, ‘Arbosana’ and ‘Koreneiki’), which require systems employing straddle harvesters [ 2 , 18 , 19 ]. This replacement of typically local varieties such as ‘Galega’ or ‘Cobrançosa’ with foreign, and particularly Spanish, varieties has been a significant factor, to the detriment of Portugal’s varietal heritage.…”