During a visit by CIHEAM Secretary General Teodoro Miano, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo announced the establishment of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies in Malta.
Malta has been a member of CIHEAM since 1989 and our country has benefited greatly from this partnership, including access to invaluable data, cutting-edge research, and funding from the European Union, which have been instrumental in driving agricultural innovation and rural development in Malta.
Minister Anton Refalo said, “This office will serve as a hub for knowledge generation, technical cooperation, and capacity building, tailored to Malta’s unique agricultural landscape. It will also strengthen our links with CIHEAM institutes, in particular CIHEAM Bari and CIHEAM Zaragoza, and will enhance our ability to address shared challenges such as climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development.”
Minister Refalo added that this initiative will not only benefit Malta but also contribute to the Mediterranean region. This is because Malta will host academic and training courses, organize joint conferences, facilitate the exchange of experts and create a platform for dialogue, innovation, and progress. The Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre will serve as a foundation for this collaboration, enabling Malta to generate knowledge that is both locally relevant and has a global impact.
“Let us remember that the challenges we face such as food security, climate change, and rural development are not limited by borders. They require collective action, shared knowledge, and relentless commitment. Through this partnership, we reaffirm our dedication to building a sustainable future for our region,” concluded Minister Anton Refalo.
