An Ecosystem Service-Based Approach to Adapt Olive Production to Climate Change

Climate change poses major challenges for agriculture. Considering that crop yield and quality will likely decline under less favourable temperature and future precipitation regimes is therefore becoming a major concern for scientists, producers and policymakers alike. Hereby, we describe a conceptual framework aimed to provide a climate-smart pest management strategy for olive (Olea europaea subsp. europaea) growing. This strategy focuses on taking up on the opportunities arising from the phenotypic diversity related to climate—or climate diversity—currently detected within O. europaea and how this diversity may be best used for adapting to climate change. To achieve this challenging goal, a fine-scale ecological and economic assessment of climate change impacts on the abundance and incidence of olive pests will need to be performed by combining climate projections with biocontrol service-based management strategies to identify which varieties may be best positioned to maximize the agronomical goals of olive farmers and managers.