The honey olive grove
A polyculture agrosystem for reducing drought risks, and preventing floods and soil erosion
The honey olive grove is an agro-landscape concept consisting in the association of olive trees and aromatic bushes which act as sinks of water and sediments, and barriers against flooding and soil erosion.
Technology validated in lab.
Basic technological components are integrated to establish that they will work together. This is relatively “low fidelity” compared with the eventual system. Examples include integration of “ad hoc” hardware in the laboratory.
Basic technological components are integrated to establish that they will work together. This is relatively “low fidelity” compared with the eventual system. Examples include integration of “ad hoc” hardware in the laboratory.
Several technical reports and dissemination papers have been published. Some farmers and private companies are currently testing the concept at small scale.
How does it work?
The landscaping concept consists of a polyculture agrosystem integrated by a mixture of olive trees linearly aligned, and blocks of aromatic bushes which are located among the trees and which would act as physical barriers for collecting water (rain and runoff), and preventing flooding and soil erosion. In hillslopes, aromatic bushes could be strategically located to act similarly as traditional terraces.
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