Girdling (or cincturing) involves removing a narrow strip of bark around the trunk or scaffold of an olive tree to interrupt the flow of carbohydrates to the roots — thereby redirecting energy toward fruit development. When applied correctly, early trials in Israel and Spain reported up to a 40% yield increase and larger fruit size (from 3.9 g to 4.7 g) the following harvest cycle. But the technique carries risks: timing, girdle width, wound heal