Portuguese olive oil

Factors aiding olive oil production in Portugal

In the preliminary years of its production in Portugal, olive oil groves were planted mostly to meet the demands of the domestic market and there were no desires fro export. During the early 1980s there was a sudden downfall in the production of olive oil with the revelation of the fact that polyunsaturated vegetable oils provided better health benefits than olive oil and the impact of this was quite shocking for the olive producers and there were olive groves in the Ribatejo region which were left in ruins to pave the way for the cultivation of sunflower oils. However, the scenario changed after 1986 when Portugal became a part of the European Union. There are several factors which have been employed to ensure the production of fine quality olive oil and also there have been made extensive attempts to export some of their produce to the world outside to earn revenues.

All the olive groves that existed have been refurbished and renovated and newer mechanized techniques have been introduced to aid production. Oil mills have been constructed in different parts of the olive producing regions. A lot of research studies are being carried out to ensure that olive oil production is flawless and the quality of the product is supreme. Olive oil has also provided good economic opportunities fro the small farmers, most of whom have joined hands with various co operatives to whom they supply their olives. In many of the oil groves artificial methods like drip irrigation is also used. All these has greatly aided olive oil production in Portugal and facilitated its spread in the northern and southern extents of the country and currently there are various expansion plans in progress to increase the rate of production in Portugal. The results are imminent with Portugal today occupying the eight position in the world market.