Maltese Delegation Joins EPP Congress For Young Farmers In Brussels
Maltese farmers set off to Brussels last week to join a congress at the European Parliament attended by hundreds of farmers.
The tenth edition of the annual EPP European Congress of Young Farmers brought around 500 farmers, policy makers and agriculture stakeholders from across Europe together to raise awareness, promote agriculture in Europe, support rural development, and emphasise the critical role of young farmers in this sector.
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 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 farmers participated in discussions that featured the new European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, as well as several MEPs and other stakeholders in agricultural policy. MEP Peter Agius, who has supported the Congress and the Young Farmer’s Prize awarded during the event, emphasised the importance of the Maltese to be among other farmers during such an important 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 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.
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