How Continuous Mechanical Harvesting Transformed the Olive Industry
Leandro Ravetti, Modern Olives
International Symposium on Mechanical Harvesting & Handling Systems of Fruits and Nuts
2-4 April, 2012
A bit of (recent) history…
A bit of (recent) history…
A bit of (recent) history
Olive oil processing led the way
Olive oil processing led the way
Olive oil processing led the way
• Continuous process. • Reduced manual labour input. • Higher quality of final product. • Reduced production costs. • Shorter harvesting period.
Modern vs. Traditional Olive Growing
Modern Olive Growing
• Sustainable. • High and constant yields. • High quality. • Low production costs.
Modern vs. Traditional Olive Growing
Traditional Olive Growing
Modern vs. Traditional Olive Growing
Different types of olive groves
Different types of olive groves
Traditional Olive Groves • Wide spacing (10-15m or 33-40 ft between trees). • No irrigation or deficit irrigation. • Poor mechanisation. • Severe production alternancy. • Old (> 25 years). • Low productivity (100 – 700 kg oil/ha or 90 – 620 lb/acre). • Direct production costs between €1.80 and €3.50/kg or US$ 8.30 to US$ 16.10/gallon.
Different types of olive groves
Different types of olive groves
Intensive Olive Grove • Medium spacing (6 to 8m or 20 to 26 ft between rows). • Deficit or full irrigation. • Average to excellent mechanisation. • Moderate to minimum production alternancy. • Young (< 20 years). • Medium to high productivity (500 – 1,800 kg oil/ha or 445 – 1,600 lb/acre). • Direct production costs between €1.30 and €1.70/kg or US$ 6.00 to US$7.70/gallon.
Different types of olive groves
Different types of olive groves
Super High Density Olive Grove • Narrow spacing (3 to 4m or 10 to 13 ft between rows). • Deficit or full irrigation. • Average to excellent mechanisation. • Moderate to minimum production alternancy. • Young (< 15 years). • Medium to high productivity (500 – 1,800 kg oil/ha or 445 – 1,600 lb/acre). • Direct production costs between €1.30 and €1.70/kg or US$ 6.00 to US$7.70/gallon.
Different types of olive groves
Sources: International Olive Council, Olive Growing, EU Report on Olives, AEMO
Intensive vs. SHD olive groves
Incomes and costs evolution with two
different densities
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Years
I. & P.C. (1250) I. & P.C. (360)
Income (1250) Income (360)
Modern vs. Traditional Olive Growing
Country Area (in ha) Nº of Olive Straddle
Harvesters Harvesting cost (In
US$/kg)
Argentina Aprox. 75.000 3 0,05
Australia Aprox. 15.000 0 0,28
In 2001
Country Area (in ha) Nº of Olive Straddle
Harvesters Harvesting cost (In
US$/kg)
Argentina Aprox. 95.000 9 0,11
Australia Aprox. 30.000 36 0,08
In 2007
Modern vs. Traditional Olive Growing
Argentina in 2012
Harvest is the most critical aspect of the productive olive oil chain
Grower Harvest Processing Storage Blending Packaging Marketing
Harvest is expensive
(Early) Harvest is difficult
Harvest affects yields and quality
Optimal harvesting time
Optimal harvesting time
Hand harvest
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
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a
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/
h
a
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v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Individual umbrella shakers
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Shakers supported by beating
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
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v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Side-by-side shakers
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Grape Harvesters
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Gregoire 133
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
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r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Coffee Harvesters
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Hawke Harvester
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
AOH 301
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Straddle harvesters with Ag Right picking heads
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Straddle harvesters with Ag Right picking heads
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Straddle harvesters with Ag Right picking heads
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Colossus
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Colossus
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Colossus
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Colossus
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Tipo de cosecha y
daño de fruta
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Harvesting Efficiency Analysis
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Non Operational Time Analysis
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
Detailed analysis of harvesting costs with Colossus
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
How Continuous Mechanical Harvesting Transformed the Olive Industry
How Continuous Mechanical Harvesting Transformed the Olive Industry
Australia
Boundary Bend Olives
Portugal
Rabadoa Sobrado
Spain
La Campana La Corchuela
Morocco
Agro Health
Chile
Argentina
Vientos Andinos Cañada Honda
Peru
Oasis Olives (Peru)
South Africa
Green Leaf Olives Alomzight
USA
Corto Olive California Olive Ranch
Thank You
Harvester type Small
Mediu
m Large
Numb
er
H
e
c
t
a
r
e
s
/
h
a
r
v
e
s
t
e
r
Grape harvesters Y Y? N 20
6
0
0
Coffee harvesters Y Y N 2
4
5
0
Ag Right heads Y Y Y 1
3
0
0
Colossus Y Y Y 3
3
0
0
Double shakers N Y Y 2
3
0
0
Single shakers N Y Y 18
1
0
0
Hawke harvester N Y Y 2
1
0
0
Gregoire 133 Y Y N 5
4
5
0
