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STAFF REPORTER

THE Balearic University (UIB) is carrying out a feasibility study on whether or not patenting an original trademark for olives grown on Majorca will help promote sales.

A collaboration agreement was signed yesterday between the UIB, the Balearic government and the Majorcan Olive Oil Regulatory Board to further research.

The Regulatory Board represents more than 400 organisations - eitherolive growers or olive oil producers who favour the use of Majorcan olives. The Board confirmed yesterday that commercially, it would be very beneficial for the Balearics were the quality of Majorcan olives to be distinguished by their own trademark.

But before any patent can be registered, an analysis has to be carried out to show that the quality of an olive crop is linked to the area where it is grown. A spokesman for the ministry for the President's Office said that locally grown olives are an integral part of regional gastronomy.

Whether whole, split or of the shrivelled variety, the extra value placed on Majorcan olives for their high quality could be a “plus” factor in commercialisation, he explained.

Majorcan olives are distinct from those produced on the mainland which tend to be larger, plumper and fruitier.