This case study focuses on highly intensive olive groves, characterised by large-scale monocultures with little to no landscape features (LF), which are often absent or exist only as small, isolated patches. Recently, farmers and agricultural companies have begun to show interest in managing or reintroducing semi-natural elements into these farms to improve environmental sustainability. 

A key partner in this initiative is EDIA, a company responsible for managing water resources and irrigation infrastructure in the region. EDIA oversees the Alqueva irrigation scheme—the largest in Europe—which supplies water to 130,000 hectares of farmland, 75% of which is dedicated to olive and almond cultivation.