Climate change could make parts of Lebanon ‘too hot’ for producing olive oil

Olive trees in Lebanon – historically renowned for the high-quality olive oil they produce – are under threat from rising temperatures, new research finds.

Olives were first domesticated some 7,000 years ago in the Middle East. Olive oil has since become a staple of the Mediterranean diet and today drives a $3bn global industry. In Lebanon, olive trees are, on average, 150 years old, and occupy nearly one-quarter of the country’s agricultural surface.