The Government buys for 5.1 million Son Bordils to convert it into an agrarian research center of the Balearic Islands

PalmaThe Government formalized this Wednesday before a notary the purchase of the Son Bordils estate, of 70.5 hectares, for an amount of 5.11 million euros. The property will be allocated to agricultural and livestock research, experimentation, and training through the Institute of Agrifood and Fisheries Research and Training of the Balearic Islands (IRFAP).

The acquisition will allow the organization to have a stable space to develop fieldwork, agronomic trials, and research projects linked to the needs of the primary sector. Until now, these activities had been carried out in different spaces and facilities. With the incorporation of Son Bordils, the Government plans to concentrate certain lines of work on a farm dedicated specifically to this purpose.

The property has agricultural land, buildings linked to agricultural activity, electricity supply, and an authorized borehole. Furthermore, the proximity to the Costitx treatment plant and the Inca irrigation pond will allow for the study of the possibilities of using reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation, a matter of interest for the sector's water resource management. Among the planned lines of research are the adaptation of crops to the climatic conditions of the Balearic Islands and the effects of climate change, the improvement of water use efficiency, the study of new varieties and production systems, and the conservation of local varieties. In the livestock field, the farm will also be able to host studies on animal nutrition, reproduction, health, and welfare, in addition to projects to conserve and study autochthonous breeds.

Training and knowledge transfer

Son Bordils will also become a space for training and knowledge transfer for professionals in the primary sector. The project plans to organize demonstration days, training activities, and practical trials aimed at farmers, livestock breeders, and other professionals. Likewise, the Government foresees the possibility of promoting collaboration projects with universities, research centers, and professional agricultural organizations, with the goal that research results can be applied to agricultural and livestock farms in the Islands.