Public Consultation on Malta’s National Agricultural Policy 2027–2037: A Unique Opportunity to Shape the Future of Maltese Agriculture

The Malta Youth in Agriculture (MaYA) Foundation recently participated in the public consultation meeting on the proposed National Agricultural Policy 2027–2037, organised by the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supply.

This policy will serve as the strategic framework guiding Malta’s agricultural sector over the next decade. It will influence future legislation, support measures, advisory services, governance structures and national priorities, while also providing the basis for Malta’s position within future European Union agricultural policies and funding programmes.

For this reason, it is essential that farmers, agricultural stakeholders and the wider public actively contribute to the consultation process.

A long-term vision for Maltese agriculture

The White Paper recognises many of the structural challenges facing Maltese agriculture today, including land fragmentation, pressure on agricultural land, climate change, water scarcity, ageing farmers, labour shortages, market volatility and administrative complexity.

To address these challenges, the proposed policy is built around six main strategic action areas:

• Protection and strategic management of agricultural land

• Professionalisation and differentiation of farming activity

• Generational renewal and labour sustainability

• Water, energy, climate and environmental resilience

• Market orientation, competitiveness and food system resilience

• Governance, data integration and administrative efficiency

The document also identifies advisory and knowledge-transfer services as a transversal element supporting all six policy areas.

MaYA’s perspective

The MaYA Foundation welcomes the publication of this White Paper and believes it provides a strong starting point for developing a coherent long-term agricultural policy for Malta.

Many of the priorities identified reflect the realities currently experienced by the agricultural sector and demonstrate an understanding of the structural challenges that require attention over the coming years.

However, identifying the right priorities is only the first step. The publication of this White Paper also represents an important milestone in a wider conversation that has evolved over the past decade. Throughout this period, MaYA has worked alongside farmers, public authorities, civil society and European partners to raise awareness of many of the structural challenges now reflected within the proposed policy framework.

The real success of this policy will depend on how these objectives are translated into practical actions that improve the daily realities of farmers.

During the consultation, MaYA emphasised several important considerations, including:

• the need for stronger coordination and cooperation between the different public authorities that farmers regularly interact with;

• reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and simplifying administrative procedures;

• strengthening both public and independent agricultural advisory services through specialised technical expertise and continuous professional development;

• ensuring that young people view agriculture as a viable and rewarding profession through better access to land, knowledge, innovation and long-term opportunities;

• recognising the importance of preserving practical agricultural knowledge held by experienced farmers before it is lost with generational change;

• ensuring that future implementation remains aligned with emerging European initiatives, including developments relating to soil health, sustainable livestock systems and future Common Agricultural Policy priorities.

MaYA also believes that governance and effective implementation will ultimately determine whether the policy succeeds. A well-written strategy alone is not enough. Public authorities must work together more effectively so that farmers can dedicate their time to producing food rather than navigating unnecessary administrative hurdles.

Your voice matters

The National Agricultural Policy will influence the direction of Maltese agriculture for the next ten years. Every farmer, stakeholder and citizen therefore has the opportunity, and responsibility, to contribute towards shaping this vision.

The Ministry is inviting feedback on questions such as:

• Are the proposed policy objectives appropriate for Malta’s agricultural context?

• Are there additional long-term structural challenges that should be addressed?

• How can advisory services better support different categories of farmers?

• What governance and administrative improvements are most urgently needed?

  
  

MaYA encourages everyone involved in agriculture, as well as consumers who value local food production and our environment, to submit their comments before the consultation closes on 15 July 2026.

Comments can be submitted through the Government’s public consultation portal:

https://www.gov.mt/en/publicconsultation/Pages/2026/NL-0016-2026.aspx

The future of Maltese agriculture depends not only on today’s decisions, but also on the willingness of today’s stakeholders to participate in shaping them. This consultation is an important opportunity to ensure that the National Agricultural Policy reflects the needs, aspirations and realities of the sector for the decade ahead.

a-national-agricultural-policy-for-malta-24-EN.pdf

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Click the above link to download the Whitepaper