The IMIDRA studies how different soil management practices and different irrigation applications influence both olive oil quality and olive grove production. The Madrid Institute for Rural, Agrarian and Food Research and Development, which has been carrying out research projects focused on olive cultivation and variety identification for over 20 years, has concentrated on testing soil tillage techniques and vegetative cover to curb problems of erosion and loss of organic matter, as well as on optimizing irrigation to maximize the economic profitability of the crop.
This research is being conducted on one of the 13 experimental plots located at the La Chimenea estate (Aranjuez), where different agronomic strategies adapted to the Mediterranean context are being evaluated.
Within the framework of these studies, a specific project is being carried out on intensive olive cultivation of the Cornicabra variety —the most widespread in the Madrid region. The aim of this research is to determine the optimal soil management and water supply that will maximize both the economic profitability and the environmental benefits of the crop.
Other lines of research in olive groves have led to the identification of local varieties and olive trees that are particularly interesting for growers, as well as the study of cultivation systems that can both reduce costs and increase mechanization.
In addition, the work also focuses on factors that can contribute to producing extra virgin olive oil of the highest quality, in coordination with the demands and needs raised by the industries themselves, such as the optimal harvesting time and the reduction of bitterness in oils from the Cornicabra variety, among others.
At the Olive Growing Center, IMIDRA also carries out studies in oleotechnology (production, extraction and preservation of oils), analyzing their chemical and sensory composition to enhance their value and position them in the market.
All these IMIDRA studies related to the behavior of varieties, soil types and cultivation systems, as well as the production and qualities of the oil obtained, have helped drive the recognition of the Madrid Olive Oil Designation of Origin in 2023, whose first bottled harvests have received major distinctions such as the EVO International Olive Oil Contest Italy 2025 and the Canada International Olive Oil Competition 2025, in addition to an Excellence Award 2025 from the World Olive Oil Exhibition (WOOE).
Each season, IMIDRA produces its institutional Extra Virgin Olive Oil from olives harvested at the Olive Growing Center of La Chimenea. Thanks to the predominance of the Cornicabra variety, this oil is characterized by a medium-high bitter and pungent sensory profile, attributes that reflect its high polyphenol content, compounds known for their health-promoting properties.
3,500 hectares under organic cultivation
In the region there are 29,000 hectares of olive groves —3,500 of them organic— which produce around 6 million liters of extra virgin olive oil. They also contribute to the maintenance of the landscape and play a role in rural development in the region, ultimately generating this gourmet product of the highest quality and with important properties for promoting health. The areas of the Community with the largest olive groves are Campo Real, Villarejo de Salvanés, Chinchón, Arganda del Rey, Morata de Tajuña, Colmenar de Oreja and Valdaracete.
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