135: Growing Olive Trees in Texan Heat with Dr. Vikram Baliga

Climate change is a daunting reality for many of us – there’s a lot of anxiety around understanding what’s happening and how it affects our communities and the foods we grow. While there’s no magic bullet, there is a lot of great scientific researchers working hard to share what they know about this. For example – you may not immediately think of Texas when you think of olive oil production, but this is one of few American landscapes suitable for growing olive oil trees! 

My guest today is Dr. Vikram Baliga, a horticulture professor in Texas. He studies conservation and has spent most of his career studying food systems, urban water use, and olive tree crops. Vikram also owns a peach orchard and tells a lot of dad jokes – most notably on his fun science podcast, Planthropology. Vikram joins me today to talk more about his research on olive tree growth in Texas – what about the climate makes it a suitable space for their growth, how olive trees respond to weather changes and stressors, and considerations around water use as climates continue to change. He’s also an expert scientific communicator, so you’re in for a really engaging conversation today!

Learn More About Vikram:

• Planthropology Podcast: https://planthropologypodcast.com/ 

• Tiktok: @theplantprof

• Instagram: @the.plant.prof