Lisbon, July 2, 2026 (Lusa) - The minister for agriculture said on Thursday that the heatwave currently affecting Portugal is expected to have only a limited impact on agriculture, provided it is short-lived, and called for a European reinsurance system.
“The impact on all crops will depend on its duration, and this also highlights the risks associated with farming,” said the minister for agriculture and maritime affairs, José Manuel Fernandes, speaking to Lusa on the sidelines of the World Olive Oil Congress, which is taking place in Lisbon until Friday.
With particular regard to the olive oil sector, the minister noted that the olives have already set and that, for this reason, the sector should remain largely unaffected.
As he explained, the extreme heat would have been problematic for olive groves had it occurred in May or earlier.
“At the moment, it has no impact, unless [the heatwave] persists for a long time,” he added.
José Manuel Fernandes also spoke of the need for the European Union to have a reinsurance system to address extreme events, such as storms or heatwaves.
Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of improving the domestic insurance market to address these issues, stressing that “climate change is a reality”.
The government today declared a state of alert due to the high temperatures expected to persist until Monday, issuing emergency orders to ban the use of machinery in agricultural activities.
Portugal’s minister for internal affairs, Luís Neves, announced the measure following a meeting with the team from the Integrated Prevention and Operations Command (CIPO), based at the Leiria Fire Brigade, where he also highlighted a “very significant worsening of weather conditions”.
Between today and Friday, Portugal is hosting the ‘Olive Oil World Congress’ (OOWC), the largest event dedicated to the olive oil sector, which will bring together researchers, producers and companies from various countries.
The event, organised by Agrifood Comunicación, will take place at the Belém Cultural Centre in Lisbon, following a first edition held in Madrid in 2024.
The programme includes discussions on topics such as the future of the sector, including adaptation to climate change, digitalisation and the application of artificial intelligence.
According to figures released by the Government, production for the 2025/2026 season is estimated at around 179,000 tonnes, a figure similar to the previous year.
PE/ADB // ADB.
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