"In five years there won't be a single one left dryland almond treeIn the Balearic Islands, according to the head of the Agricultural Service, Andreu Juan, in his appearance before the Parliament's Climate Change Commission on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries this Wednesday, only 7,000 remain, a figure that demonstrates that this crop is currently "in short supply." This tree was traditionally cultivated in the Balearic Islands because it withstood drought, the Mediterranean climate, and did not require high maintenance costs. However, more work and care of the land is needed to obtain results.XylellaA bacterium that clogs the vessels through which sap circulates. This prevents water and nutrients from reaching the leaves, leading to a loss of production and even the death of the tree.

Vineyards and almond trees, two emblematic crops of the Balearic Islands, could see their future jeopardized in the medium term if temperatures continue to rise. This warning came yesterday from biologist and professor at the University of the Balearic Islands, Jaume Vadell, during his address to the Parliament's Commission on Climate Change in Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. According to Vadell, both species "suffer" from high temperatures and depend on a specific number of chill hours to complete their productive cycle. "The reduction of these hours is key for woody crops. Although heat may initially stimulate growth, yields decrease when a certain threshold is exceeded," he cautioned. For this reason, he proposed rethinking the agricultural zoning for these crops. The scientist also pointed out that other horticultural crops, such as tomatoes, melons, and watermelons, could be jeopardized if the current trend of rising temperatures persists. In contrast, crops like corn or alfalfa tolerate the heat better, although "above 36 or 37 degrees Celsius, growth is also limited." Regarding olive groves and carob trees, Vadell emphasized that they are "more resilient" species with a superior capacity for adaptation.

Dryland almond trees no longer colonize the Balearic landscape as they did years ago. The islands' standard crop, once cultivated because it withstood drought, the Mediterranean climate, and had low maintenance costs, is disappearing due to climate change and... XylellaFaced with this situation, farmers in the Balearic Islands are opting to plant irrigated almond trees and are also introducing foreign hybrid varieties that offer greater production stability. However, Jaume Fornés, a doctoral candidate in Biology, believes that productivity "is not a matter of origin, but rather of how the trees perform under new conditions." In this regard, he explains that in the Balearic Islands "we have traditional varieties such as Guarin, Joan Toni's, Martona, and Cacahuete, which are quite old and, to date, perform well under certain conditions." On the other hand, he clarifies that "there are others, such as Vivot, Verdereta, Pou, and Manento, which are very sensitive and cannot be cultivated."

Dryland almond trees no longer colonize the Balearic landscapes, as they did years ago. The standard cultivation of the islands is disappearing: "The dryland almond trees that produced 99.9% of Mallorca's almonds no longer exist," laments the president of the Camp Mallorquí Cooperative, Miquel Gual. This tree was planted in the Balearic Islands because it resisted drought, the Mediterranean climate, and did not have a very high maintenance cost.

Ten years ago, a group of young farmers from the Manacor village of Son Macià, united to hold Saturday markets and sell their produce, accepted the challenge of getting a 1940s machine working again. A groundbreaking traditional machine that allows members to decide what to do with their produce.