The History of Olive Cultivation
The olive tree has nourished civilizations for over 6,000 years. From ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day Crete, olive cultivation remains one of humanity's most enduring agricultural traditions. The oil has been used for food, medicine, and religious rituals across continents and millennia.
Modern olive groves still employ techniques unchanged for centuries, though sustainable practices are evolving to address climate change. Researchers in Thessaly have developed disease-resistant cultivars that preserve the tree's traditional flavors while improving crop yields.