Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in EU Olive Farming (EU-OLIVES)
Project type | FWF Principal Investigator Project |
Grant | PAT1944325 |
Project period | 1 February 2027 – 31 January 2030 |
Principal Investigator | Priv.-Doz. Dr. Bea Maas, University of Vienna |
FWF project page | |
Contact | bea.maas@univie.ac.at |
Abstract
Mediterranean olive farming landscapes are among the most extensive and culturally significant agroecosystems in Europe, yet they are undergoing rapid intensification and ecological simplification. These changes threaten biodiversity and the ecosystem services that underpin sustainable agricultural production, including pollination, pest control and soil functioning.
EU-OLIVES will provide a comprehensive, multi-scale understanding of biodiversity dynamics and ecosystem-service delivery in European olive groves. Building on long-term datasets and research initiatives across Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, the project integrates biodiversity, management, land-use, climate and stakeholder information in a pan-European research framework.
The project combines three core components: (1) harmonisation and synthesis of biodiversity and ecosystem-service data across European olive systems, (2) quantitative and spatial modelling to identify trade-offs and synergies between production and conservation, and (3) development of science-based recommendations and decision-support approaches for biodiversity-friendly olive farming. By linking ecological data with stakeholder knowledge and existing conservation initiatives, EU-OLIVES aims to support more resilient agricultural systems that reconcile food production with biodiversity conservation across Europe.