The threat to the southern European olive
The threat to the southern European olive
 Sep 21st 2019“THIS ONE has seen Napoleon,” says Massimo Arsieni. “It has seen the world wars. It has seen everything. And soon it will be dead.” He throws his arms around the fat, gnarled trunk of the olive tree. He means to emphasise its age, but could be clasping a dying relative. Mr Arsieni’s family has owned these groves outside the village of Cellino San Marco since 1800. Though harvest season is drawing near in Puglia, in the heel of the Italian boot, the tree’s branches are mostly bare and its remaining leaves are grey-brown. Its few olives are discoloured and weather-puckered. “A disaster,” Mr Arsieni sighs. The olive groves that have encircled Cellino San Marco since ancient times are now turning into what locals call tree cemeteries.This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Fade to brown”Europe September 21st 2019Why Russia is ambivalent about global warmingWill a November election break or prolong Spain’s political deadlock?Once part of the Warsaw Pact, Albania will soon host a NATO air baseMatteo Renzi quits his Democratic PartyGermany’s pricey “coal exit”The threat to the southern European oliveFrom the September 21st 2019 editionDiscover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the editionReuse this content