د . إAEDSRر . س

‘Endemic’ Seeds Sent To Maltese Households May Actually Be From Holland, Expert Warns

Article Featured Image

A free packet of “endemic” wildflower seeds of sent to 180,000 Maltese homes may actually not include endemic species after all, a leading flora expert has said.

“The Maltese electorate has been bombarded with government propaganda that the environment is of utmost priority. We have heard this ad nauseam. And, then, the electorate receives from the Minister for the Environment ‘endemic’ seeds imported from Holland to contribute to the Maltese biodiversity,” Alfred Baldacchino, who holds an MA in environmental management and is a former assistant director of the Environment Protection Directorate, said in a new editorial.

“Just imagine (Environment Minister) Aaron Farrugia attending a ministerial meeting of the European Union, boasting of his initiative – to import from Holland – Maltese ‘endemic’ seeds of four indigenous wild flowers ‘to contribute to the growth of our country’s biodiversity’,” he continued.

Maltese homes had received packets of seeds including four species – Borage, Red Corn Poppy, Sweet Alyssum and Chamomile – in a bid to safeguard pollinating species like bees. The packets came with a photo of Minister Farrugia included.

However, while the wildflowers species are indigenous to Malta, they are not endemic – that is, found solely on the island.

Speaking to Times of Malta, Ambjent Malta, the government agency running the seed project, said the error in designation was a “misprint” in the fliers handed out along with the seeds.

Vice President of the European Council Roberta Metsola called out the error.

“Imagine being the Environment Minister and being so devoid of any sense of duty, of any responsibility, of any vision for our environment that you would use your ministry so embarrassingly – using the environment as a pretext for a panicked, desperate, ill-thought out PR move that has backfired so humiliatingly,” she said.
“They have no idea what they are doing. They are so far out of their depth, that it should worry us all.”

Though Ambjent Malta said there were “negligible” risks associated with importing these seeds, Baldacchino warned they ran the risk of contaminating the local gene pool.

Did you receive your free packet of “endemic” seeds?

READ NEXT: 15-Year-Old Maltese Youth Finishes Incredible 1,000km Challenge In Memory Of Rebecca Zammit Lupi

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]

You may also love

View All