Thousands of olives planted by Mallorcan scientists to discover the best strain

SCIENTISTS from Mallorca university UIB are joining forces with engineers to determine the best strain of olive.

Researches want to create an olive that can withstand harsher weather conditions, failing farming models, and the recent plague known as the ‘olive ebola’, which is spreading throughout Spain.

The perfect olive will yield a higher profit through using less resources and producing more oil per olive.

Some 6,000 olives, comprised of three different varieties, have been planted in Son Mesquidassa for the study. Next year the experiment will add different irrigation conditions as well as an array of pruning options.