2019, Volume 22, Paper 1
ISSN: 2209-6612

Soil to Oil: Improving the Value Chain for Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Producers

Michael Esposito – Postgraduate student, Centre for Global Food and Resources, University of Adelaide.

Abstract

In recent years many small-scale Australian olive oil growers have neglected plantations due to the high cost of inputs relative to prices, while other growers have sought to add value and ultimately profitability by marketing their own private label oil. In this paper the major constraints to olive oil value chain performance are identified, and some possible improvements are suggested. These include more widespread adoption of technology that results in efficient functions and cost-effective production processes; a focus on quality and responsiveness which may be verified by technologies such as blockchain; structural adjustment of the value chain to enable co-operative models that allow growers to pool resources across logistical and cross-functional drivers; and a focus on specialised niche olive products such as organic certification and beauty products.

Key words: EVOO, value chain, responsiveness, information technology, certification.

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