In a context of climate change and increasing water scarcity, the RESIOLIVA Operational Group, to which Carboliva belongs, is promoting an innovative strategy to transform rainfed olive cultivation, focusing on sustainability, efficiency, and adaptation to the Mediterranean climate.
Spain, as the world’s leading producer and exporter of olive oil, has over 2.7 million hectares dedicated to this crop, of which only 28% are irrigated. In Andalusia, olive groves occupy more than 1.5 million hectares, particularly prominent in the provinces of Jaén, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, and Seville, which form the so-called “olive axis.” However, water dependence and the intensification of plantations pose significant challenges in a territory increasingly affected by prolonged droughts.
In response to this scenario, RESIOLIVA proposes a transformative model that improves olive grove productivity and resilience without requiring additional irrigation. The initiative combines the use of certified plants with beneficial microorganisms (mycorrhizae and Trichoderma) and biochar obtained from olive pomace, a byproduct of the oil extraction process. This combination reduces the consumption of water, mineral fertilizers, and fungicides, while improving soil health, increasing its carbon sequestration capacity, and promoting circular management of agricultural waste.
The project is the result of a public-private collaboration among PLANTAS CONTINENTAL, S.A., the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS-CSIC), CARBOLIVA, ASOCIAFLOR, and CAMBRICO BIOTECH, with funding from the Regional Government of Andalusia and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
Pioneering trials have been launched in super-intensive rainfed cultivation with two olive varieties: Arbosana and Sikitita.
Precipitation recorded between February and April was exceptionally high, reaching cumulative values close to 1,000 L/m² in the study area, well above the historical average for that period. This climatic anomaly conditioned the development of the trial, whose main objective was to evaluate strategies for improving soil water retention. The permanent saturation of the soil profile prevented an adequate assessment of the effectiveness of the applied measures, as the water content remained continuously high, nullifying any potential differentiating effects among the various practices tested.
During the six months following the application of the amendment—composed of a mixture of olive pomace biochar and vegetable compost—a significant improvement in the physical properties of the soil was observed, as well as an increase in nutrient availability. In particular, a notable increase in both the total organic carbon content and stable carbon in the treated soils stands out, indicating a greater capacity for organic matter retention and long-term fertility potential.
However, despite these soil improvements, a high mortality rate was recorded in the introduced varieties: 60% in Sikitita and 25% in Arbosana five months after planting. This level of loss is primarily attributed to excessive moisture during the trial period.
The presentations made at EXPOLIVA 2025, the 1st Agrovalor Conference, and two specialized congresses on sustainable soil improvement have generated considerable interest, highlighting both the project’s innovation and the results obtained.
RESIOLIVA represents a decisive step towards more sustainable, profitable, and environmentally adapted rainfed olive groves for the 21st century, in full alignment with the priorities of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy.
