12 million farms, 172 million hectares of agricultural land, 25 million people involved in agricultural production – these are some of the key data for the EU farming sector in 2010; but what about the situation of individual farms and how do things differ between Member States and as compared...

The project engaged with key stakeholders through interviews and discussion groups to explore a range of identified thematic issues, along with economic modeling to explore impacts of alternative measures and CAP reform on the agricultural economy of Malta. The aim was to develop a strategy to enable Malta to make...

Domestic and donor-driven development agendas for African agriculture are spurring smallholder family farming as a catalyst for food security and poverty reduction. Family farms are also the backbone of agriculture in the European Union, although the process of concentration has gone further than in Africa. European agricultural policy reforms now...

The concept of family farming is the recipient of much high-level political capital right now...  The United Nations has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming, the primary aim of which is to promote, develop and strengthen all types of familyoriented agriculture - from horticulture and livestock to fisheries and forestry - as a socially...

All businesses need to innovate if they are to thrive, and family farms are no exception. By thinking ahead and developing new approaches, farmers can increase output, develop new and improved products, diversify and tap into new income streams, and remain environmentally sustainable. Innovative farms are more likely to weather...

The project beneficiary is a female farmer who has been growing and selling vegetables in Malta. She applied for EU funding to convert to organic farming. She had been considering this conversion for some time and the funding opportunity allowed her to put her ideas into practice. The objective of the...

Agriculture and rural life seem to have found the right appeal for Europe's young people between 17 and 20 years of age, especially among those living in rural areas and who have had work experience in a farm. This is the key result of the survey carried out by the...

‘Resource efficiency’ is a term that is used to describe environmentally sensitive approaches to development. In practice it means using resources sensibly to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the same quality of life that we have now. Consequently, using resources efficiently makes sound long-term sense and this...

Food is fundamental to life and the majority of the food that we eat comes from Europe’s rural areas. Food priorities for the European Union (EU) include safeguarding food supplies and providing European citizens with quality, value and a diversity of food which is produced sustainably3 . The Common Agricultural...

From the findings that emerge from both the general public as well as the main stakeholders of the agricultural sector it is clear that there is a convergence of attitudes on a number of key issues related to the sector, although the findings among the general public must be read...

Malta Organic Agriculture Movement is a totally independent and voluntary organization set up in November 1999 to promote Organic Agriculture in Malta. Its members include farmers, consumers, technical people and many others who have the local natural environment at heart.  The primary aims of MOAM is to inform the public...