Zaragoza, 21 June 2024.- The minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights of Malta, Anton Refalo, travelled with his team to Aragon to visit the Spanish headquarters of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM Zaragoza) to strengthen ties with the international organisation and seek ways to enhance the sustainable development of the agrifood sector in his country.
The minister met with Raúl Compés, the director of CIHEAM Zaragoza, the only branch of the international organisation in Spain. Compés shared information with the Maltese visitors about the Centre’s projects and training programmes that focus on the sustainable development of food systems, as well as other areas of interest.
During the meeting, Refalo underlined the importance for Malta to design a strategy that can draw on good practices from other territories and thus strengthen the growth of the Maltese agrifood system.
To formalise their commitment to collaboration, the Ministry of Agriculture of Malta and CIHEAM Zaragoza signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement outlines their shared interest in developing institutional capacity-building through technical cooperation, including professional mobility and the development of joint projects in training, technical assistance and knowledge-sharing.
The director of CIHEAM Zaragoza commented on the meeting: “Malta has been a member of CIHEAM since 1989. Our commitment to work together to overcome common challenges faced by Mediterranean agrifood systems such as climate change, efficient water use and food security, will be reinforced in forthcoming years”.
The next meeting of CIHEAM Zaragoza’s Governing Board will be held on 11th July in Birgu (Malta), attended by the delegates of the 13 member countries of the intergovernmental organisation
Opportunities for collaboration between the Aragonese agrifood sector and Malta
CIHEAM Zaragoza also hosted a meeting between the Maltese delegation, led by minister Refalo, and the minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food of the Regional Government of Aragon, Ángel Samper, and representatives of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), the regional government agency Aragón Exterior, and with relevant actors of the Aragonese agrifood system (the Aragonese clusters CAMPAG and ZINNAE; the Official College of Agricultural Engineers of Aragon, Navarre and the Basque Country; and Aragon Food Industry Association).
The meeting took the form of a round table discussion where participants showcased the strengths and capabilities of their respective fields, and explored opportunities for collaboration between the Aragonese agrifood system and Malta.
During the debate it became evident that to support small agricultural businesses and address challenges such as ageing, lack of generational renewal, limited access to land and water, and low competitiveness, strategies such as cooperation between stakeholders, technical assistance, research and innovation are essential. These measures can serve as a turning point to halt the sector’s decline.
The day concluded with a visit to Casa Ganaderos, where the members of the Maltese delegation heard first-hand about the history of this long-standing institution founded in 1218 that has become a modern sheep-farmers’ cooperative with 270 members.
Meeting with Minister Planas
The visit to Spain ended on Thursday 20 June with a meeting between the Maltese dignitary and the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, in which they discussed the Spanish agricultural insurance system, an international benchmark and one of the most effective tools for managing uncontrollable risks on farms. Both ministers expressed their willingness to work closely together to promote the development of new technologies that make every drop of water profitable.
