Farmers test olives and exotic herbs as drought intensifies

Farmers in Upper Austria are testing olives and other unusual crops as rising heat and, especially, drought put increasing pressure on agriculture, ORF reported. The trials aim to help farms adapt to changing conditions.

Olive groves could also become viable in the Mühlviertel region. The forestry directorate says other climate-resilient species are better suited as forest trees, but olives could be of interest for agriculture.

Josef Walchshofer, who runs the Vedahof event venue in Gramastetten in the Urfahr-Umgebung district, planted winter-hardy olive trees from Spain two years ago to create a Mediterranean atmosphere at the farm. There are now about 300 trees on the sunny southwest-facing slope. Only a few young trees suffered frost damage this year, and they are already sprouting again.

Together with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, a company is studying the potential of olive trees as a climate-resilient agricultural crop at the Vedahof. Walchshofer said about 200 trees could be planted on 10,000 square metres, which could be economically viable. Olive leaves can also be used to make products including tea and gin, and the first chocolate products are already being produced.

Farm switches from cattle to herbs

In Mettmach in the Innviertel region, Christian Jenichl switched his parents’ part-time cattle farm to full-time herb cultivation seven years ago. He now supplies the Hirschbach mountain herb cooperative in the Mühlviertel.

Contract farmers are reporting overall herb harvest losses of about 20 percent this year, but Jenichl has so far managed the season well. He said lemon balm does not tolerate intense heat and might no longer grow in local fields in five years. Greek mountain tea could take its place.

Jenichl is therefore taking part in the Exotisches Österreich trial programme run by the European Union and the federal government. He said farmers needed to be willing to test new crops and gain experience as climate change became increasingly noticeable.

The Greek mountain tea has already been harvested and is growing again. Indian basil, whose scent resembles cloves, is expected to ripen in the coming weeks. Jenichl said there were already initial enquiries from the market and that growers now needed to move quickly.

Farmers back lavender cultivation

A previous lavender trial convinced five of six farmers and is now continuing permanently. The herbs from Upper Austria are used as tea and seasoning in households and in food processing, including for speciality cheese rinds.