Egypt: Olive oil, an essential part of Mediterranean culture and cuisine, is currently facing an unprecedented environmental challenge. A recent scientific study published in Communications Earth & Environment indicates that increasing water scarcity and a predicted decrease in solar activity could significantly impact olive production throughout the Mediterranean, which accounts for over 98% of the global supply.
The research, conducted by an international team of scientists, analyzed 8,000 years of fossil pollen data to trace the history of olive tree productivity and investigate the long-term influences on yields. The results indicate that shifts in temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation will weaken the resilience of olive groves, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, creating serious difficulties for farmers and economies reliant on olive farming.
“While most studies concentrate on short-term climate fluctuations, our findings reveal that long-term climatic patterns—including solar cycles—have influenced olive productivity for thousands of years. These cycles are now being disrupted,” stated lead author Samuel Luterbacher, a climate scientist at the University of Giessen in Germany.
- Heavenly Father, earth and air and water are Your creation, and every living thing is Yours: have mercy as climate change confronts the olive groves in Egypt. Give people the will and the courage to simplify the way we live, to reduce the energy we use, to share the resources you provide, and to bear the cost of change (The Holy Bible, Psalms 24:1).
- Lord, we pray for wisdom to understand the problem and recognize that climate change is a result of human actions and to address it with responsibility (The Holy Bible, Psalms 104:24).
News Source: Daily News Egypt
Image Source: Canva
