Global agriculture currently finds itself at a crossroads. The WWF estimates that a third of the world’s arable land has been lost during the past sixty years, as a direct result of soil erosion, changing weather patterns and other types of degradation. At a time of continuous global population growth, addressing significant present and future food security issues requires significant effort, innovation and cooperation.

During the past years, this government has introduced numerous financial schemes, which will protect and further incentivise growth for local producers. Budget 2023 has allocated no less than €8 million on price stabilisation schemes, ensuring that local food produce remain affordable for our citizens. Other schemes, such as the Agriculture Support Scheme, the Livestock Welfare Scheme, and the numerous investments in our aquaculture and fishing sectors, are essential in ensuring the sustainability and availability of locally-grown, nutritious food in our households.

The threat of climate change on our sensitive eco-system, however, still looms large. Agriculture, after all, is both a victim and a significant contributor to greenhouse gases.

On one hand, the effects of climate change include multiple phenomena:  substantial increases in temperature, rainfall variation, and an increased number of extreme weather events. Other effects, such as soil degradation, water scarcity, and the desertification of large swaths of land, put further pressure on local producers.

These issues directly threaten the livelihoods of an already ageing farmer population, such as is found in Malta. Without substantial direct assistance, and an agricultural policy that addresses these concerns, our local farming communities face a real possibility of being dealt a fatal blow, in only a few generations.

On the other hand, we cannot downplay the effect that current agricultural practices have on our climate.  The latest report from the European Parliament on regulating methane emissions, notes how agriculture is responsible for more than half of all anthropogenic emissions of methane in the EU. This is estimated to be around 10% of all total greenhouse gas emissions in this bloc.

Both methane, and the emissions of nitrous oxide fertilisers and animal manure, have a significantly higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Indeed, the United Nations recently noted how food processing, packaging, transport, household consumption and waste disposal are pushing the food supply chain to the top of the greenhouse gas emitters list.

Farming as we know it, therefore, has to change. What is thus needed, is an innovative, top-down approach.

Ironically, one of the major negative points related to local discourse on agriculture, might be a potential asset. Our small-scale farmers are already seeking to maximise the output generated from their restrictive space: The UN for example notes how 30% of the world’s food is just produced on 11% of available farmland.

Indeed, Maltese farmers for decades, have pioneered the most effective use of existing soil, while in turn protecting our biodiversity. As a government, our role now is to strengthen the existing bridge between Maltese consumers and producers. Through campaigns, events and structural dialogue, we must empower further cohesion and collaboration between producers, customers and private enterprises. This in turn will lessen our dependency on foreign produce, thus significantly reducing the environmental impact attributed to the food that we eat.

Step by step, this government is already launching new policies and frameworks, which seek a more integrated approach to local food production. By emphasising on climate-smart agriculture, we must seek to reduce emissions, enhance our environmental resilience, and increase overall productivity.

Our investments on aquaculture for example, have sought to integrate new species into emerging markets, both locally and abroad. The changes to our agricultural lease laws, will significantly restrict the loss of existing arable land for development and other purposes.

Together with the existing Young Farmers Scheme, we as a Government will continue incentivising young farmers to replace those who are retiring. We are implementing further incentives which seek to inform these new farmers about the most sustainable, efficient and climate-friendly farming practices. One of these practices, organic agriculture, was recently the subject of a new long-term strategic action plan unveiled by this government. This strategy seeks to strengthen our local food security, while reducing future sources of emissions, for the benefit of all of us.

Our efforts, therefore, are addressing both the challenges of food security, and climate change.

The challenges that our farmers face on a daily basis, are numerous and considerable. But now is not the time for trepidation. As a Government, we will continue to have the courage, will and drive to commit to the tasks at hand. Working for and with our farmers, for the benefit of all.

Alicia Bugeja Said is Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights