Helen Mirren, 81, is on a mission to save Italy’s 1,500-year-old olive trees; deadly Xylella fastidiosa bacteria has wiped out 22 million trees since 2013; 'We have to save these trees,' she says
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The bacterial disease has destroyed millions of olive trees and caused billions of euros in economic damage, threatening Italy's agricultural heritage and livelihoods, and Helen Mirren is using her platform to draw attention to the crisis.
Oscar-winning actor Dame Helen Mirren has spent decades entertaining audiences with her performances, but one of her most important missions lies far from the film sets. The 81-year-old actor is fighting to save Italy’s ancient olive trees from a devastating bacterial infection that has wiped out millions of trees and caused billions of euros in economic damage.
Xylella fastidiosa is a plant‑borne bacterium that spreads through insects and has devastated olive groves across Italy since 2013, prompting large‑scale eradication and containment efforts.
- •Announcements of new government or private funding for olive‑tree rescue programs
- •Implementation of quarantine or treatment measures to curb the spread of Xylella
- •Updates on the success of restoration projects involving historic olive trees