Celebrating the Australian industry this World Olive Tree Day
By Laura Thomas
Next Wednesday 26 November is World Olive Tree Day, a worldwide celebration dedicated to the rich history and significance of the humble olive.
According to the United Nations, the day recognises the olive tree’s “important social, cultural, economic and environmental significance to humanity”.
But for Australian olive growers and producers, it’s not just about a thousands-year old legacy which began in the Mediterranean.
It’s a chance to reflect on Australia’s homegrown industry, appreciate its quality and look to the future.
Australia produced around 14.5 million litres of olive oil and 3,000 tonnes of table olives in 2024, satisfying around 40-50% of consumer demand.
Supplementing this supply was around 30-40m litres of olive oil and 17,000 tonnes of table olives from Spanish and Greek exporters.
This gap in the market represents a golden opportunity for Australian growers, according to Australian Olive Association Chief Executive Officer Michael Southan.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for growth in Australia and we’re actively working to capitalise on it,” he said.
“Our industry is comparatively small on a world scale, but it’s built on a foundation of quality.
“We’re leading from the in front when it comes to industry standards and making an impression in some of the world’s most established olive growing regions.”
Mr Southan said the AOA remained focussed on the growth of Australia’s domestic olive production capacity.
“We’re committed to nurturing the next generation of Australian olive farmers,” he said.
“Our educational field day program has continued to provide industry newcomers with an insight into the industry and a foundation for success.
“But this is just one part of the picture. There are other significant challenges to overcome in maximising productivity.
“Alongside our work to encourage new producers to join the industry, we need to focus on increasing tree productivity and scalability of production and processing.”
Keen to know more? It’s time to get back to basics!
The AOA will host another of its sold-out Back to Basics Field Day events in South Australia next month.
Held on 11 December 2025 at Adelaide University’s Roseworthy Campus and NOVA site at Roseworthy SA, the event will provide key information for new and established growers alike.
The day’s program will cover site selection, varieties, irrigation, grove management, pruning, pests and diseases and harvest options.
A number of equipment suppliers and service providers will also be on hand to showcase what is available to make your grove as efficient as possible.
Can’t make it to SA? Due to popular demand, the AOA’s Back to Basics Field Day Field Day program will visit Victoria and New South Wales in early 2026.