Bringing the Maltese Perspective into the European Conversation on Organic Farming
- MaYA Foundation
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
What role does organic agriculture have within the wider European agricultural sector, and how can young people be supported to build a future in farming?
These were some of the questions explored during the third edition of the Organics Europe Youth Days (OEYD) 2026, organised by IFOAM Organics Europe on 21 and 22 July in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany.
Neil J. Tirchett attended the event representing the Malta Youth in Agriculture (MaYA) Foundation, joining young farmers, students, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and other stakeholders from across Europe and other countries to exchange experiences and discuss some of the challenges and opportunities facing the next generation of agriculture.
For MaYA, participation was also an opportunity to bring something from Malta into a European conversation that is often shaped by experiences from larger agricultural countries.
Day 2 – WOW Organic
The second day, WOW Organic, shifted the focus towards the wider organic food system, including its future, its challenges and the way it is communicated to consumers.
The programme explored organic agriculture in the context of wider geopolitical, economic and environmental challenges. Discussions also looked at common misconceptions surrounding organic production, as well as the experiences of young people working across different parts of the organic value chain.
One of the interesting observations during the event was the growing interest of young people in organic agriculture. While the wider farming population in many European countries is characterised by an ageing workforce, organic agriculture appears to attract a notable number of younger people who are entering the sector and establishing themselves as organic farmers.
This does not mean that organic farming is without its own challenges. In fact, many of the difficulties discussed during the event; including access to land, economic viability and generational renewal, are challenges faced by agriculture more broadly. For organic farmers, however, these can be compounded by additional production requirements, certification and the need to operate within a specific production system and legislation.
Bringing Malta into the conversation
One of the highlights of the event for MaYA was the opportunity to contribute directly to the discussions.
As MaYA is not currently a member of the Organics Europe Youth Network, we were specifically invited to take part in the open-mic session alongside another organisation that is also not currently part of the network. This gave us a valuable opportunity to introduce MaYA and, more importantly, to share the realities of Maltese agriculture with an international audience.
The Maltese agricultural context is very different from that of many of the countries represented at the event.
Throughout the two days, participants heard about challenges such as high land prices, limited access to land and difficulties with generational renewal. These are challenges that are also very familiar to Maltese farmers. However, in Malta, the structural constraints facing agriculture are often intensified by the country's small size, limited agricultural land and the particular pressures faced by local food production.
For organic farmers, these challenges can be even more difficult to overcome.
During the presentation, Neil highlighted that behind the image of Malta as a Mediterranean island and popular tourist destination lies an agricultural sector facing significant challenges in maintaining local food production. These realities can easily go unnoticed by those who only experience Malta as a short-term visitor.
It was therefore important for MaYA to use this opportunity to show that Malta has an agricultural story that deserves to be part of European discussions, including discussions on organic farming.
The presentation also emphasised that many of the challenges facing organic and conventional farmers are shared. Rather than creating a divide between the two systems, there is value in encouraging greater communication and exchange between them.
Good practices developed within organic farming can provide inspiration for farmers using other production systems, while experiences from conventional agriculture can also contribute to the wider discussion. Ultimately, farmers across different systems share a fundamental objective: producing food while maintaining viable farms and protecting the resources on which agriculture depends.
Why does this matter for Malta?
Organic agriculture is already part of Malta's agricultural policy landscape. In 2023, the Ministry for Agriculture published Malta's Action Plan for Organic Food 2023–2030, setting out a framework for the development of the organic sector in Malta.
There is also an already established local community around organic agriculture, with the main organisation being the Malta Organic Agricultural Movement (MOAM), which has been active for many years in promoting organic food production and environmentally friendly farming practices.
Although the development of organic agriculture in Malta has been gradual, the sector has continued to develop over the years. At the same time, organic farming is attracting interest from younger people entering agriculture - a trend also reflected in the discussions at the OEYD.
For MaYA, this makes it important that young Maltese agricultural stakeholders are part of conversations about how the sector can develop. This is not about arguing that one farming system should replace another. Rather, agriculture in Malta needs appropriate support and protection across the sector, while recognising the different realities and choices of farmers.
Whether a farmer chooses conventional, organic or another production approach, the fundamental challenge remains the same: how can we ensure that farming remains viable enough to attract and retain the next generation?
Why is MaYA active in these European events?
Participating in events such as the Organics Europe Youth Days is therefore important for MaYA beyond the opportunity to attend presentations or build new contacts. European agricultural policies and initiatives increasingly influence the realities faced by farmers at national level. It is important that Malta is not only represented when policies are implemented, but that the realities of Maltese agriculture are also brought into the conversations where ideas, experiences and perspectives are exchanged.
For MaYA, this means listening to what young farmers and agricultural stakeholders across Europe are experiencing, learning from approaches that may be relevant to Malta, and sharing our own experiences in return. The OEYD provided exactly that opportunity.
The event brought together people working across different parts of the agricultural and food system, from farmers and researchers to policymakers, entrepreneurs and civil society organisations. The discussions showed that while agricultural systems differ significantly between countries, many of the challenges facing the next generation are remarkably similar.
Perhaps one of the strongest messages to take away is that agriculture cannot move forward through isolated efforts. Communication, knowledge exchange and collaboration between farmers, policymakers, researchers, organisations and consumers will be increasingly important.
This applies to organic agriculture, but it also applies to agriculture as a whole.
Supporting agriculture means creating the conditions for farmers to remain economically viable, protecting the resources needed for food production, encouraging knowledge and innovation, and perhaps most importantly, ensuring that young people continue to see a place for themselves within the sector.
For MaYA, being part of European conversations such as the Organics Europe Youth Days is one way of contributing to that process, while ensuring that the voice and realities of Maltese agriculture are also heard beyond our shores.
View Neil's video on our social medias here
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