MaYA Foundation invited to PROTECHMED Local Info Day
How can innovation help make greenhouse agriculture more sustainable?
This question was at the heart of the PROTECHMED 1st Local Info Day, hosted by Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta at the Notch Conference Centre.
The event brought together representatives from government, agriculture, academia, industry and research to explore how new technologies, shared expertise and collaboration can help address some of the challenges facing Mediterranean agriculture.
What is PROTECHMED?
PROTECHMED stands for PROmoting innovative solutions for the TECHnological Transition of the MEDiterranean horticultural sector. The project aims to co-design and test five eco-innovative solutions for horticultural greenhouses, with a particular focus on conserving water and energy.
With partners from Greece, Italy, Malta, Tunisia, Lebanon and Türkiye, PROTECHMED seeks to bridge the gap between research and agricultural practice, helping bring innovative ideas closer to the people and businesses that could benefit from them.
The project’s activities include testing technologies such as photovoltaic systems and a Decision Support System (DSS), training technicians, and developing a roadmap for a more sustainable business model for greenhouse food production. Together, these activities aim to support a more resource-efficient approach to horticulture.
Event Highlights
The Local Info Day offered an opportunity to explore these ambitions in the context of Malta’s agricultural sector.
Mr Manuel Sapiano, Chief Officer (Water Resources) at Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta, opened the event by highlighting the project’s relevance to Malta. This was followed by a presentation from Ms Emilia Arrabito, Director of SviMED, who introduced PROTECHMED’s structure and shared practical case studies illustrating its approach.
A panel discussion then brought together Mr Darren Borg (MAFF), Mr Malcolm Borg (MCAST), Ms Emilia Arrabito (SviMED) and Mr Eman Vella (Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi). Their contributions explored innovation, water management and sustainability from different perspectives, highlighting the importance of developing solutions that reflect the realities and needs of the agricultural sector.
The event concluded with addresses by Dr Giovanni Iacono, President of SviMED; Dr Marielise Tabone, CEO of Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta; and Hon. Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection. Their remarks reinforced the value of cooperation, knowledge exchange and continued investment in more sustainable agricultural practices.
Looking Ahead
For MaYA, the event offered a valuable opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing Mediterranean horticulture and the initiatives working to address them.
We thank Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta and all the speakers and participants for sharing their knowledge and perspectives, and look forward to following PROTECHMED’s progress.
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