The Balearic Islands seed bank continues to grow with the addition of new traditional varieties such as Mallorcan garlic, Ciutadella aubergine, Menorcan white onion and long purple aubergine. The Balearic Government’s aim is not only to preserve them, but also to study them and help bring them back into cultivation on farms across the islands.
The Institut de Recerca i Formació Agroalimentària i Pesquera (IRFAP) preserves hundreds of local varieties of vegetables and cereals. These include crops historically linked to farming in the Balearic Islands, such as Valldemossa tomato, Andratx red onion and black broad bean.
“Behind every seed are years of selection and knowledge passed down through generations of farmers. We have a responsibility to preserve this legacy, study it and make it available to the sector once again”, said Joan Simonet, Regional Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment.
New varieties in the Balearic Islands seed bank
The seeds stored by IRFAP are kept under specific conditions and periodically regenerated to maintain their viability. Researchers also study and document their characteristics.
One of the necessary steps towards bringing these varieties back into cultivation is registering them as conservation varieties in the Register of Commercial Varieties. This procedure allows producers to legally propagate and market their seeds.
During 2026, IRFAP has applied to register the Valldemossa tomato, Cor de Bou tomato, boiling pea and shelling pea. Andratx red onion, Mallorcan lentil and black broad bean have already been approved, meaning their seeds can now be officially produced and marketed.
At the same time, the bank has added Mallorcan garlic, Ciutadella aubergine, Menorcan white onion and long purple aubergine this year. These varieties will now begin the process of conservation, characterisation and regeneration.
The project involves collaboration with farmers and organisations including the Associació de Varietats Locals, Jardí Botànic de Sóller and Xarxa de Llavors d’Eivissa i Formentera, among other organisations dedicated to preserving the islands’ agricultural biodiversity.
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