Xylella has been a final blow to almond production. | Photo: Francesca Marí
Andrew EdeFrancesca MaríPalma17/10/2026 16:22
Since the Xylella bacterium was first detected at a nursery in Porto Cristo in October 2016, 53% of the almond-growing area in the Balearics has been lost.
A plant pathogen transmitted by certain sap-feeding insects, the bacterium had been highly destructive in Italy. It was referred to 'olive ebola', as olive trees were particularly susceptible, but so were others.
Containment measures were put in place. These included removing trees in localised areas in order to prevent the possible spread of the plague. Over the past ten years, almost 2,000 trees have been removed, and almonds have been the most affected.
Andreu Juan, head of the regional government’s agriculture service, says there are currently 8,228 hectares of almond trees, "a very significant reduction", although Xylella has not been the only reason for the decline. "Most of these have been old trees in rain-fed orchards. The low profitability of almonds has led to the abandonment of these crops. The advanced age of the trees, a lack of maintenance, and the impacts of climate change have all contributed to the situation.
"This crop has been in decline for years. There were 65,000 hectares in the 1990s and 85,000 in the 1980s." But Xylella has been the final blow and has contributed to a huge fall in production down to 1,684 tonnes in 2025, an 81% decrease compared with 2016.
Xylella's impact has not been dramatic for other crops, such as olives or vineyards. "The situation with vineyards is different. In 2025, there were 3,035 hectares, a 46% increase over 2016. The same applies to olive groves, which now cover 10,716 productive hectares, a 20% increase."
The bacterium remains present on the islands, though farmers have learned how to curb its spread. "Controlling the vectors that transmit it is the best solution, which is why we distribute plant protection products." Xylella has different variants; fastidiosa was the one first highlighted back in 2016. 494 different species of trees and plants have been infected. The impact is clearly visible with almond trees, "but we are gradually learning to coexist with this plague".