Sustainability assessment of olive groves in Andalusia: A methodological proposal

Abstract

The olive industry in Andalusia, Spain, has recently undergone important changes due to the expansion and intensification of farming. This process is causing sustainability problems, not only in socio-economic terms (decrease in olive farmers� profits) but also from an environmental point of view (soil erosion, water pollution and biodiversity losses). The main objective of this study is to develop a methodology to analyse the sustainability of olive-growing farms in Andalusia. This methodology will allow us to take into account the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, socio-cultural and environmental), as well as to obtain a precise diagnosis of olive groves through a selection of indicators. A total of 27 indicators were selected, of which 7 analyse the economic dimension of sustainability, 9 analyse the socio-cultural dimension and 11 evaluate the environmental sustainability of olive groves in Andalusia. This set of indicators aims to help both decision-making processes and the implementation of public policies.