Area under organic farming

Malta’s action plan for organic food aims for 5 % organic utilised agricultural area by 2030, with increased organic aquaculture¹. From 2012 to 2022, the organic utilised agricultural area increased from 0.3 % to 0.6 %. Organic aquaculture producers are encouraged to scale up operations to provide fresh, sustainable products. Activities may receive financial support through national funds, co-funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and other EU funds¹. Organic farming in Malta faces challenges due to small, fragmented and scattered land holdings, affecting the economic viability and generational renewal of organic farming¹. Further efforts to refine existing measures and provide new initiatives to drive the desired growth are continuously explored.

These goals are supported by stronger organisational leadership, market stimulation and financial support for organic farming conversion and maintenance, as well as targeted policies and . EUR 2.3 million has been allocated through the common agricultural policy strategic plan, and more than EUR 3 millionof Malta’s national budget has been allocated to targeted training, knowledge sharing and upskilling programmes to support producers in this transition, the leasing of agricultural land and the conversion of sites eligible for photovoltaic greenhouses into sites of organic production¹.