Pest Control
Olive tree protection
The application of an adequate and timely phytosanitary defense allows to obtain a satisfactory production from a quantitative and qualitative point of view.
Of the high number of natural species (over 250) that live in community with the Olive tree, some are harmful: insects, mites, fungi, virus.
The damage caused by pathogens that attack the olive tree are of various types:
- slowing down of vegetative activity of the plant and consequent deterioration
- significant decrease of the production due to the fall of the flower clusters, and / or early fruit drop
- reduction in the quality of olives and of the olive oil
For decades, the phytosanitary defense of the olive trees has been carried out by systematically using chemical treatments, especially against insects.
On the contrary, our strategy is based on the knowledge of these three main elements:
WHO
HOW
WHEN
Integrated production
Based on this knowledge, we try to balance the positive effects of the treatments to ensure adequate production in terms of quantity and quality and the side effects of the pest control to reach high levels of food safety.
This concept is summarized in the definition of "integrated production": an agro-food production system with low environmental impact that uses available production methods and plant protection to minimize the use of synthetic chemicals and to rationalize the fertilization, in compliance with ecological, economic and toxicological principles.
Agriculture carried out with the integrated production method is an eco-sustainable alternative to the organic method.
Sicily Region issues a Disciplinary for Integrated Production for each type of cultivation containing all guidelines in detail.
Main pathogens of the olive tree
Olive fly (bactrocera oleae)
Olive moth (Prays oleae)
Half peppercorn cochineal (Saissestia oleae)
Peacock's eye (Spilocaea oleaginea)
