Reflections from an external evaluator on the future of olive production systems on sloping land.

Although the particular characteristics of SMOPs clearly are relevant for environmental considerations such as soil erosion, the presence of slope and/or mountains also has a direct and indirect infuence on economic viability. Thus, the SMOPs concept can be seen as a surrogate for defining a more disadvantaged or “marginal” type of olive grove, in contrast to groves on flat land that generally are of greater productivity and economic viability, due to better soils, larger holdings, fewer obstacles to mechanisation, better access, etc.