Italian olive oil farmers face collapse amid price drops

Italian olive oil crisis deepens as prices plummet and groves lie abandoned

Italian olive oil producers are facing a deepening crisis as prices collapse and imports surge. While consumer costs for Italian olive oil have jumped by over 20%, farmers are earning nearly a third less than before. The situation has left many groves abandoned and growers calling for urgent action to protect their industry. The trouble began with a flood of low-cost Tunisian olive oil entering the Italian market. Early last year, prices for Tunisian imports spiked, disrupting local sales and pushing down producer incomes. Italian farmers now struggle to compete, as Tunisia’s lower production costs and oversupply keep prices artificially low.

Across Italy, hundreds of thousands of hectares of olive groves sit unused or neglected. In parts of Tuscany alone, around 40% of olive-growing land has been abandoned in recent years. Producers warn that without intervention, Italian olive oil risks losing its identity, becoming just another cheap commodity rather than a prized culinary staple.

To survive, Italian growers argue they must focus on what sets them apart: quality, traceability, and the country’s rich variety of olive cultivars. Unlike Spain or Tunisia, Italy cannot win on price alone. Instead, producers are pushing for a national strategy that safeguards their reputation and ensures fair returns for their work. The pressure from Tunisian imports and falling farmgate prices has left Italian olive oil producers at a crossroads. If no measures are taken, more groves could be abandoned, and the industry’s future may hinge on its ability to stand out in a crowded market. For now, farmers are waiting to see whether their calls for a quality-driven approach will gain traction.