Olive oil industry under increasing threat from 'olive leprosy'

Italian, Spanish and Greek farmers set to lose billions unless drastic action is taken to combat bacterium that has killed millions of treesOne of southern Europe ’s most important staples,olive oil, is under pressure from apotentially deadly disease that new research shows could infect nearly all of the productive areas of Italy, Greece and Spain.Economic losses could be as high as €5bn over the next 50 years for Italy, whereat least 1m trees have already died, if nothing is done to halt the spread of the disease and olive groves are not replanted,the study found. In Spain, losses could total €17bn over the same period, and Greece could suffer to the tune of about €2bn.Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - April 13, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Fiona Harvey Environment correspondent Tags: Europe Agriculture Farming Trees and forests Environment Science Italy Spain France Source Type: news