British olive oil, anyone?

Until very recently, the notion that the UK could join the ranks of olive oil producing countries was considered madness. Yet the prospect of home grown British Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is increasing arousing curiosity and attracting attention.

At Huggit's Farm, our ambition is to produce British Extra Virgin Olive Oil from our site on the hills overlooking Romney Marsh in Kent.

According to International Olive Council (IOC) forecasts, global production is anticipated to rise by 5% in 2012, while consumption is anticipated to increase by 8% over 2011. The UK Office of National Statistics estimates the UK consumes over 30m litres a year - all of which is imported - and spends over £150m per year on olive oil.

Traditional olive producers such as Italy, Greece, Spain and other Mediterranean countries (often referred to as the ‘Old World' producers) have established groves and are well placed to benefit.

Arguably however, ‘New World' producers (Australia, New Zealand, US, Argentina, South Africa and China, amongst others) are poised to reap the rewards from the projected rise in demand. Olive farmers in these countries are adopting highly intensive production schemes more commonly associated with vineyards. They are also increasingly defining world standards and producing EVOO to a quality that exceeds award winning oils from some Old World groves.

A little under a year ago we took the plunge and started trialling six olive cultivars in Kent, selected for their hardiness, disease resistance, oil producing qualities and flavour characteristics. Agronomy tests currently being conducted will tell us more, but given the site is south facing, well drained (mix of light clay on sandstone), not particularly fertile (which olives tolerate) and in an area of the South East with some of the lowest levels of rainfall in Britain we're hoping the site will bode well for commercial olive cultivation.

In the early summer we will be evaluating which cultivars present the best commercial opportunity, and begin preparing the remainder of the grove. Once fully planted, and assuming a 6x6m planting scheme, we estimate the initial grove will consist of some 200-250 trees.

Interest from the international olive industry, olive growers around the world, academics, horticulturalists and the trade media has been very encouraging. Leading figures from the olive industry are also providing valuable counsel as we plant-up the grove.

Of course we have no idea if we will succeed, and there are considerable obstacles - not least of all our unpredictable climate. But if we've played our global warming cards correctly, British Extra Virgin Olive Oil may well be coming to a dinner table near you.

Contact details

Neil Davy will be blogging quarterly on Farming Futures so you can follow his progress at Huggits Farm. Alternatively you can get contact him via:
• web: www.huggitsfarmolives.com
• Huggits Farm on facebook
• twitter: @huggitsfarm
• phone: Neil Davy - 07717 305874