No sector leaves an impact as subtle, and yet so relevant on our daily lives, as agriculture. What we eat, drives our day-to-day decision making: what we buy, drives an entire agricultural sector forward; what we waste, also impacts government policy on a regional and local level.

In these environmentally conscious times, agriculture and food production continue to dominate regional and global policy making. With food and water sources becoming ever so scarce, and our waste landfills take up even more arable and liveable land, sustainability has not only become a political buzzword: its a necessity. 

The effects of Covid-19, furthermore provided an immense reality check for many policy makers. The proliferation of global trade through these past decades have led to a false perception that the strength of our current economic interdependence, is too robust too fail. One pandemic, and twelve months of economic turmoil, soon laid bare the sandy foundation on which our assumptions were built. 

Our modus operandi must drastically change. The emphasis on circular economy, local sustainability, and farm to fork initiatives have migrated from niche economic industries to necessary mainstays of our policies. Our local farmers and producers must be able to not only overcome the present challenges, but also those looming not so far ahead. 

With this in mind, it felt essential to take those necessary steps in closing the gap, by raising a new generation of Maltese citizens who are environmentally and socially sensitive to the needs, aspirations and problems facing our farmers. And so, earlier this week, the Government launched a new initiative, aimed at members of the farmer community willing to share their daily experience with the next generation.

The larger problem that agriculture in Malta faces however, is more internal than external. Notwithstanding its importance to the local food production, our farming population continues to dwindle year by year. Due to present challenges, and decades of insufficient land and policy planning, the current rate of newcomers to the sector is far smaller than the rate of the older generation facing retirement. 

This Government has already reiterated its commitment to confronting these issues head on. In these past months alone, we have undertaken extraordinary changes to our agriculture lease (Qbiela) legislation. This Government has also intervened directly with financial aid to some of the industries worst hit by the war in Ukraine.

While essential, these schemes are not enough. In addition to financial incentives, and immediate aid, the need for long-term innovation and constant regeneration is necessary. 

And thus, in addition to our young farmers scheme, our Let's Talk Farming scheme will start a long but steady path to enacting such a fruitful transformation. We want our farmers to not fear change, but rather embrace it, and propel it. 

Our farmers now have the opportunity to influence a new generation of farmers from a young age. Step by step, such initiatives will not help install a more environmentally-conscious education, sowing the seeds for a stronger next generation. 

We will continue to maintain a balance between the present exigencies, and future sustainability goals. It’s an arduous but essential task, and our farmers are one of the key tools in ensuring that we succeed.

Alicia Bugeja Said is the parliamentary secretary for

Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Welfare