{"id":56968,"date":"2026-04-18T16:58:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T15:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=56968"},"modified":"2026-04-18T16:58:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T15:58:43","slug":"new-agreements-strengthen-investment-in-innovation-and-preservation-of-the-agricultural-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/18\/new-agreements-strengthen-investment-in-innovation-and-preservation-of-the-agricultural-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"New agreements strengthen investment in innovation and preservation of the agricultural sector"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights has announced an important investment in the agricultural sector through the signing of agreements related to strategic projects that focus on innovation, research and the preservation of Maltese agricultural heritage.<\/p>\n<p>Among these, the MOBAC project stands out, an initiative that aims to protect and preserve Maltese indigenous breeds, including Maltese cattle, sheep, goats and local chickens. This project not only contributes to the protection of national heritage, but also includes a strong research and innovation component through the use of advanced biotechnological techniques, such as genetic testing and cryopreservation.<\/p>\n<p>This approach will allow for the identification of unique traits in these breeds that may have significant economic and scientific value, while contributing to more resilient and sustainable food systems, with less import dependency and new export opportunities.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56971\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-56971\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655c.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-56971\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655c-300x208.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" srcset=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655c-300x208.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655c-150x104.jpeg 150w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655c-218x150.jpeg 218w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655c-100x70.jpeg 100w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655c.jpeg 432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-56971\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo said that these projects are a clear example of the Government\u2019s vision to build a modern agricultural sector that combines tradition with innovation. He maintained that the preservation of local breeds is a direct investment in the future of the sector and an integral part of the national strategy for food security and sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>Minister Refalo added that these initiatives are creating new economic opportunities for farmers, particularly for young people and women, while strengthening the competitiveness of the Maltese agricultural sector.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, another project related to tissue culture was also announced, which will substantially strengthen the infrastructure of the Research and Consultancy Directorate. This project includes improvements to the micropropagation laboratory and ancillary screenhouses, as well as an investment of approximately \u20ac890,000 in modern and technologically advanced equipment, financed by European funds.<\/p>\n<p>This investment will serve as a foundation for the development and breeding of certified local fruit tree and vine varieties, while strengthening research on the authenticity and origin of local crops.<\/p>\n<p>Minister Refalo also emphasized that the investment is including specialized training for employees, in order to strengthen the skills and capabilities needed to advance high-level research.<\/p>\n<p>The Minister concluded by saying that these two projects reflect a clear commitment towards a more sustainable, innovative and competitive agricultural sector, while continuing to strengthen the value of local production and protect the Maltese agricultural heritage for future generations.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56969\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-56969\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655a.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-56969\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655a-300x208.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" srcset=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655a-300x208.jpeg 300w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655a-150x104.jpeg 150w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655a-218x150.jpeg 218w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655a-100x70.jpeg 100w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655a.jpeg 432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-56969\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Minister for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that this investment, co-financed by European funds, shows how Malta is effectively using available resources to strengthen strategic sectors such as agriculture. He stressed that these projects not only promote innovation and research, but also create added value for the economy and strengthen the resilience of the Maltese agricultural sector to future challenges.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_56968\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"56968\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights has announced an important investment in the agricultural sector through the signing of agreements related to strategic projects that focus on innovation, research and the preservation of Maltese agricultural heritage. Among these, the MOBAC project stands out, an initiative that aims to protect and preserve Maltese indigenous [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_56968\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"56968\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":56970,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-56968","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-local-news"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"thumbnail":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-150x104.jpeg",150,104,true],"medium":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-300x208.jpeg",300,208,true],"medium_large":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"large":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"1536x1536":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"2048x2048":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"td_0x420":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"td_80x60":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-80x60.jpeg",80,60,true],"td_218x150":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-218x150.jpeg",218,150,true],"td_324x400":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-324x300.jpeg",324,300,true],"td_696x0":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"td_1068x0":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"td_100x70":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-100x70.jpeg",100,70,true],"td_265x198":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-265x198.jpeg",265,198,true],"td_324x160":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-324x160.jpeg",324,160,true],"td_324x235":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-324x235.jpeg",324,235,true],"td_356x220":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-356x220.jpeg",356,220,true],"td_356x364":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-356x300.jpeg",356,300,true],"td_533x261":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b-432x261.jpeg",432,261,true],"td_534x462":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"td_696x385":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"td_741x486":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false],"td_1068x580":["http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pr260655b.jpeg",432,300,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Bernard Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights has announced an important investment in the agricultural sector through the signing of agreements related to strategic projects that focus on innovation, research and the preservation of Maltese agricultural heritage. Among these, the MOBAC project stands out, an initiative that aims to protect and preserve Maltese indigenous&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56968"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56972,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56968\/revisions\/56972"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}