Ryan Portelli Becomes First Maltese Winner Of EPP Young Farmers Award
A 22‑year-old farmer from Rabat, Ryan Portelli, has made Maltese agricultural history by winning the EPP Young Farmers Award at the 11th European Congress of Young Farmers in Brussels.
Portelli was nominated for the award by MEP Peter Agius, in recognition of his work with Syneco, an innovative pilot project that transforms pig and cow waste into clean energy and fertiliser.
This marks the first time a Maltese farmer has ever won this distinction. Portelli comes from a fourth-generation farming family that is part of Malta’s largest farming cooperative.
MEP Agius applauded the win, saying it “underlines the fact that farmers are a key part of the solution to protect the environment.”
Portelli, accepting the award, said he viewed it as a victory for the wider Maltese farming community: “This honour is for all Maltese farmers. We are determined to make agriculture grow in a sustainable way. Projects like Syneco, which begin on the farm but scale up to national solutions, must be supported. Farmers need time to adapt to new realities,” according to The Malta Independent.
The Syneco initiative, co‑funded by the EU, is based in Qormi. It gives farmers access to soil and water analysis and features a custom app called CropManager, which helps them plan and apply fertiliser more efficiently.
According to Agius, Syneco is expected to significantly reduce environmental impact in Malta by lowering the quantity of animal waste sent to wastewater treatment plants — a persistent issue for the island.
This award highlights a growing commitment in Malta’s agricultural sector to embrace sustainability, innovation, and the principles of a circular economy.
Well done Ryan!
Credit: Peter Agius via Facebook
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