Spanish producers are hoping to improve the quality of watermelons with the use of new technology.

Leading co-operative Anecoop has invested in sensor equipment to scan the internal quality of seedless watermelons, which it hopes will improve quality by more than 50 per cent.

The project has been jointly funded by Anecoop and Spain’s ministerial commission for science and technology, part of the ministry of industry.

The system has been developed over six years at the University of Madrid and cost €250,000.

During the 2003-04 season, Anecoop exported more than 64,000 tonnes of watermelons.