{"id":154,"date":"2025-07-28T11:44:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/?p=154"},"modified":"2025-07-28T11:44:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:44:04","slug":"supporting-biodiversity-in-olives-a-regenerative-approach-to-habitat-integration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/supporting-biodiversity-in-olives-a-regenerative-approach-to-habitat-integration\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting Biodiversity in Olives: A Regenerative Approach to Habitat Integration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At the International Olive Sustainability Conference, the Center for Regenerative Agriculture researchers demonstrate on-farm biodiversity through an interactive tour of a hedgerow funded by the CDFA Pollinator Habitat Program<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n

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Dr. Boyd highlights a leaf serving as habitat for natural enemies to global industry professionals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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In September 2024, the UC Davis Olive Center hosted the International Olive Sustainability Conference (IOSC), gathering global experts in sustainable olive production. As part of the post-conference tours, participants visited California Olive Ranch (COR), one of the partnered growers under the American Olive Oil Producers Association (AOOPA). AOOPA received funding through the CDFA\u2019s Pollinator Habitat Program to support pollinator habitat implementation across California olive farms. The tour featured a native hedgerow planted in April 2024 to enhance biodiversity and support beneficial insect communities. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Elizabeth Boyd, entomologist and professor, and Gerardo Tapia, graduate researcher pursuing a Master of Science in Regenerative Agriculture and supported by the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS) at California State University, Chico, led an interactive tour of the hedgerow. Using sweep nets and vials, they highlighted the presence of native pollinators and natural enemies, including parasitic wasps and predatory lacewings. Attendees had the opportunity to observe lacewing eggs within both the hedgerow and the adjacent olive grove. Additional beneficial insects observed included syrphid flies, Western European honeybees, and assassin bugs. A plant species list was distributed while participants engaged in discussion about the hedgerow\u2019s influence on olive grove ecology, pollinator diversity, and regenerative management practices. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Green lacewing (Chrysopidae) observed on the surface of Olea europaea (olive) leaf.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Two Hymenopteran feeding on Sambucus nigra \u2018elderberry\u2019. Both of these bees belong to the insect family Apidae<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Hover fly (Syphridae) on the surface of a leaf of Sambucus nigra \u2018elderberry\u2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Although olive trees are self-pollinating and do not depend heavily on insect pollinators, the hedgerow provides critical habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects, and wildlife. COR\u2019s implementation of this hedgerow through the Pollinator Habitat Program reflects growing interest in ecological solutions that offer multiple on- farm benefits, including erosion control, soil health, and biodiversity. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Hedgerow site visited during the industry tour.
Left<\/strong>: intensive olive planting.
Right<\/strong>: established hedgerows.
Photo taken May 2, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In addition, Gerardo Tapia is conducting research for his master\u2019s thesis to evaluate how hedgerows influence the functional composition of beneficial insect communities in olive groves. The study compares field margins with and without hedgerows using non-lethal, catch-and-release methods. Functional groups studied include pollinators, predatory insects, and parasitoid wasps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These efforts highlight the value of habitat enhancement, even in low-pollinator-dependent systems. They also highlight the importance of collaborative approaches between producers, researchers, and agencies like CDFA in supporting a more resilient agricultural landscape! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By: Gerardo Tapia Jr and Elizabeth A. Boyd, Ph.D. (Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems)\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the International Olive Sustainability Conference, the Center for Regenerative Agriculture researchers demonstrate on-farm biodiversity through an interactive tour of a hedgerow funded by the CDFA Pollinator Habitat Program  In September 2024, the UC Davis Olive Center hosted the International Olive Sustainability Conference (IOSC), gathering global experts in sustainable olive production. As part of the … Continue reading Supporting Biodiversity in Olives: A Regenerative Approach to Habitat Integration<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-informational","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Boyd_1_2025_Chico.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":212,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/09\/17\/celebrating-biodiversity-through-our-progress-to-30x30\/","url_meta":{"origin":154,"position":0},"title":"Celebrating Biodiversity through our Progress to 30×30\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"September 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"California is one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots \u2013 areas with exceptional concentrations of plant and animal species found nowhere else on the planet. 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This change reflects our commitment to strengthening agriculture while addressing future challenges. Alongside the name change, we\u2019ve introduced a unified logo, symbolizing our shared mission across programs. This rebrand marks the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-4.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-4.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-4.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-4.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-4.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":188,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/31\/collaborative-orchard-studies-improve-efficiency-and-sustainability\/","url_meta":{"origin":154,"position":3},"title":"Collaborative Orchard Studies Improve Efficiency and Sustainability\u202f","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 31, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"State and industry representatives visit Bowman Orchards. Almonds are California\u2019s #1 export crop for good reason. No place in the world has a climate better suited to consistent, high-quality almond production. Furthermore, the constricting labor market in the state has encouraged farmers to move towards almonds, with their relatively lower\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Producer Success Story"","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"State and industry representatives visit Bowman Orchards.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Almond-Board-Staff-Explaining-Almond-Lifecycle-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":175,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/technical-assistance-program-builds-statewide-partnerships-in-climate-smart-and-conservation-agriculture\/","url_meta":{"origin":154,"position":4},"title":"Technical Assistance Program Builds Statewide Partnerships in Climate Smart and Conservation Agriculture\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The OARS Technical Assistance (TA) Program is critical to realizing the OARS mission: \u201cto use the best available science and knowledge from the agricultural community to design and implement practical solutions to California\u2019s natural resource challenges that improve the environmental and economic sustainability of producing nutritious food, fiber, and energy.\u201d\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Secretary Ross gives an inspirational talk to Technical Assistance Providers on the importance and impact of their work at the 2024 OARS TA Conference.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/01\/23\/sustainability-spotlight-vander-woude-dairys-digester\/","url_meta":{"origin":154,"position":5},"title":"Anaerobic Dairy Digester Converts Methane to Renewable Natural Gas in Merced County","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"January 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Vander Woude Dairy is transforming sustainability in agriculture. This family-owned farm in Merced, California, has implemented a cutting-edge methane digester, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 24,000 MTCO\u2082e annually and converting waste into Renewable Compressed Natural Gas (R-CNG). 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