Maltese delegation participates in EPP congress for young farmers
Nationalist MEP Peter Agius emphasises importance of having Maltese citizens participating in discussions on future of farming sector
16 December 2024, 1:48pm
Karl Azzopardi
Karl Azzopardi
1 min read
Farmers who participated in the EPP congress with Nationalist MEP Peter Agius
Maltese farmers participated for the first time in the annual EPP European Congress of Young Farmers this week.
The congress focused on key current challenges in agriculture, including the importance of water for farming in the coming years, better marketing of European agricultural products, and how Europe can encourage more young people to keep this vital sector alive.
The Maltese delegation included young farmers from the MAYA Foundation (Malta Youth in Agriculture), led by Jeanette Borg, as well as farmers from Gozo and Steven Zerafa, a robotics researcher exploring how robotics can be applied in local agriculture.
The Maltese farmers participated in discussions that featured the new European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, as well as several Members of the European Parliament and other stakeholders in agricultural policy.
Nationalist MEP Peter Agius, who has supported the Congress and the Young Farmer’s Prize awarded during the event, emphasised the importance in having Maltese citizens participating in the event.
“For the first time, the Maltese are participating in the EPP Farmers' Congress in Brussels. I will ensure that my role as an MEP is used to the fullest to involve the Maltese in decision-making in Europe,” Agius said.
The EPP Farmers' Congress serves as a platform to attract more young people to agriculture, a sector that has seen a 30% decline in youth participation over the past 20 years.
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
Karl Azzopardi is Online Editor and an IGM press awards (Human Stories) winner of 2019
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