According to Brian Vella, CEO of the Malta Food Agency, entering the agricultural sector from scratch in Malta has become an impossible feat for those who do not inherit land. The barrier is primarily financial, driven by a real estate reality that makes soil in Malta the most expensive in the European Union.

While an average hectare of arable land across the EU costs around 15,224 Euro, in Malta, that same patch of earth fetches over 201,263 Euro. This staggering thirteen-fold difference means landowners often find it more lucrative to sell their plots for alternative uses than to till them, creating a structural crisis for the nation’s food security.

The demographic shift is equally concerning. In an interview with this media house, Vella notes that the traditional pipeline of farming families has dried up. Where families once had many children, ensuring at least one stayed on the farm, modern smaller families and a societal push toward high-skilled professions have left the fields empty of local youth.

Farming is no longer seen as an attractive career path, a trend Vella admits is global but felt acutely on a small island with limited resources. Beyond the human element, Maltese agriculture faces a trifecta of environmental hurdles: a lack of fresh groundwater, extreme land fragmentation, and the increasing volatility of climate change.

Despite these pressures, Vella is adamant that Malta must maintain its own production. He compares local food to oxygen, arguing that while the country will always need imports to survive, fully relying on overseas supply is a dangerous gamble. Recent storms in early 2026 proved this point when supermarket shelves went bare after supply lines from Sicily were severed. To counter this, the Malta Food Agency is working to modernise the sector’s infrastructure. They have already digitized the Pitkalija market, introducing barcoding and a mobile app that allows farmers to track sales in real-time and consumers to trace their produce back to the specific field where it grew.

A significant part of the strategy involves addressing market failures caused by Malta’s small scale. Vella highlights a 3% tax incentive for farmers selling directly to the catering industry and plans for a Food Innovation Hub expected to open in the second half of 2027. This hub aims to solve the problem of overproduction; instead of wasting surplus tomatoes when prices drop, farmers will be able to use the provided infrastructure to process them into value-added products like salsa.

However, Vella notes that for these efforts to truly take root, Maltese farmers must overcome their hesitation toward cooperatives. To compete in a fast-paced market, individual growers need to unite to achieve better economies of scale. While the contribution of agriculture to the national GDP may be small, its role in maintaining a functional ecosystem is irreplaceable. By shortening supply chains to just a few kilometres, Malta offers a level of freshness that larger nations can only dream of, provided the island can find a way to keep its next generation of farmers on the land.

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Mumenti recently presented a cheque for €17,118.58 to Hospice Malta following Mumenti 5, a theatre production that brings together different artistic disciplines with the main support of APS Bank. Held in October 2025, the event united emerging talent, organisers and audiences in a shared effort to raise funds for Hospice Malta’s free palliative care services.

Through the commitment of everyone involved, Mumenti 5 made a meaningful contribution to families who rely on Hospice Malta’s care. The cheque presentation, held at Hospice Malta, recognised the collective effort behind the initiative, with APS Bank among the supporters of the production.

Jeremy Vassallo, CSR Manager at APS Bank, said: “Presenting this cheque at Hospice Malta was a reminder of why these initiatives matter. We thank everyone who took part and helped make this contribution possible.”

Rachael Blackburn, Head of Culture at APS Bank, added: “Mumenti 5 shows what can happen when people come together with a shared purpose. We are proud to support initiatives that give space to emerging talent while also making a real difference in our community.”

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“Non-hazardous waste increased by 18.2% (519,503 tonnes), while hazardous waste decreased by 3.3% (2,392 tonnes). Taking into consideration the total waste generation, the mineral fraction increased by 21.8% (502,983 tonnes) while the non-mineral fraction increased by 2.2% (14,128 tonnes).”

In absolute terms the highest increases were noted for non-hazardous Mineral waste from construction and demolition (323,198 tonnes) and non-hazardous Dredging spoils (131,989 tonnes). On the other hand, the most notable decreases were registered for non-hazardous Sorting residues (25,935 tonnes) and hazardous Discarded vehicles (21,482 tonnes), it said.

Waste treatment

In 2024 the total waste treatment amounted to 3 million tonnes, increasing by 14.6% (386,840 tonnes) in comparison to 2023.

Increases were registered for Backfilling (385,533 tonnes), Other disposals (175,010 tonnes) and Landfilling (14,937 tonnes). Conversely, decreases were recorded for Recycling (186,385 tonnes), Energy recovery (1,711 tonnes) and Incineration (545 tonnes).

When considering the location of treatment, the 2024 figures show that for the amounts treated in Malta, Backfilling registered the highest increase (385,533 tonnes) while Recycling experienced the highest decrease (198,010 tonnes). Regarding treatment in overseas facilities, the main increase was for Recycling (11,625 tonnes) while Energy recovery exhibited the highest decrease in absolute terms (1,711 tonnes), the NSO said.

“During 2024, increases were registered for the waste input into the Għallis landfill (9,435 tonnes), the Tal-Kus (Gozo) waste transfer station (829 tonnes) and the Sant’ Antnin Waste Treatment Plant (276 tonnes). On the other hand, decreases were registered at the Malta North Mechanical Biological Treatment plant (13,111 tonnes), and at the Marsa Thermal Treatment Facility (118 tonnes).”

In terms of weight, inert mineral waste is the major type of waste undergoing treatment in Malta. In 2024 the backfilling of Mineral waste from construction and demolition surged by 58% (381,727 tonnes). In contrast, recycling for this waste category declined by 13.6% (197,255 tonnes). In 2024 disposal at sea and backfilling for the remaining mineral waste categories both advanced by 175,010 tonnes and 3,806 tonnes, respectively.”

Separate collection of waste

In 2024, the collection from civic amenity sites and bring-in sites went down by 5,346 tonnes and 18 tonnes respectively. During the year under review, increases were registered in the door-to-door collections from households for the organic bag (2,444 tonnes), the grey bag (834 tonnes) and glass (299 tonnes). An increase of 887 tonnes was also registered for plastic, metals and glass that were collected by the Beverage Container Refund Scheme, the NSO said.

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With over a third (34.7%) of the Malta’s population reporting that such problems have affected their household, Malta recorded the highest rate for this metric by over 14 percentage points in comparison to the next worst European Union Member State, Greece.

Following Malta for how widespread these natured complaints were, were Greece (20.5%), Germany (16.8%), and France (16%).

On the other end of the spectrum, EU countries that reported the lowest share of their respective populations noting such complaints were Croatia (4.2%), followed by Sweden (5%), and Slovakia (5.8%).

Across the entire Union, 12.2% of the EU population reported pollution in their area to have affected their household. This marks a decrease of 2.9% since this was last reported by Eurostat in 2019, where the Union-wide percentage was 15.1%.

Malta is one of just seven EU countries that reported a percentage of at least 15% or over.

Following Malta, the next smallest countries in the European Union – Cyprus and Luxembourg – recorded percentages of 10.5% and 9.5% respectively.

Eurostat published that at EU level, exposure to pollution, grime, or other environmental issues increased with the degree of urbanisation. In rural areas across the continent, just 6.8% were affected; meanwhile, this share stood at 10.5% in towns and suburbs and 17.2% in cities.

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The ministry said that this scheme is divided into five branches and aims to strengthen key areas within the same sector that have been identified as needing prioritisation and support. It continued that each branch supports audiovisual works at every stage of development, from script writing to production, with a key focus on creativity, quality, and cultural value.

With that said, the ministry added that in recent days, Arts Council Malta has also launched a sixth branch of the scheme, which the ministry said will assist in the promotion stage of cultural and audiovisual productions that were completed no more than 18 months prior to the submission of the full application. It added that this branch is managed on a rolling call basis and will close on 18 November 2025, or when the fund is fully disbursed.

Minister Owen Bonnici said that, for the second consecutive year, the government is investing heavily in Malta’s domestic film industry and consolidating their commitment to prioritising the sector and ensuring that it receives support. He commented that there was an investment of €1 million last year targeted towards Maltese film producers, and remarked that this year the investment was increased to €2 million to be given to local productions.

Bonnici said that the government strongly believes in the talents and capabilities of local filmmakers, “so much so that we made this part of our election promises, and promised to offer this local industry the recognition and resources it deserves”. He said that the government will continue to deliver on this promise, “not with a one-off measure, but with a clear plan that will undoubtedly strengthen the audiovisual ecosystem as a whole, and thus help it reach its potential”.

Arts Council Malta Executive Chairman Luke Dalli said that there was strong competition for this scheme, which he said shows how much enthusiasm and capacity there is in the field. He said that Arts Council Malta’s goal “goes beyond just financial support”, as he commented that a sustainable growth platform is being built with this scheme, “where creatives not only find funding, but also mentoring, professional development, and collaboration tools”.

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MaltaPost has again joined members of the Euromed Postal Joint Stamp Project in the issue of a new set of stamps bearing a common theme – “Resources of the Mediterranean”. In this regard, MaltaPost will issue a set of two stamps related to the main natural resource of the Maltese Islands, Globigerina Limestone. The stone’s relatively soft texture makes it easy to carve, rendering it an essential material for both structural and decorative purposes.

The €0.45 stamp shows a skilled stonemason, carving a low-relief design out of a large stone structure. The second stamp, bearing a denomination of €1.50, shows a striking example of a magnificent baroque building, the Banca Giuratale in Gozo, built in 1733 from locally quarried globigerina limestone. Both stamp visuals are the work of local artist Mariah Grech.

The set will be issued in a sheet of 10 stamps, with each stamp measuring 44 mm x 31 mm, with a comb perforation of 14.1 x 14.2 and bearing the Maltese Cross watermark. The sheets measure 115 mm x 182 mm and were produced in the offset process by Printex Limited. The issue consists of 100,000 stamps of the €0.45 denomination and 50,000 stamps of the €1.50 denomination.  

The stamps will be available from all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo from Wednesday 9 July 2025. Orders may be placed online at www.maltaphilately.com ; or by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost p.l.c., 305 Qormi Road, Marsa MTP 1001; by telephone 2596 1740 or via e-mail info@maltaphilately.com

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SOFTSWISS, an international tech company headquartered in Malta, has won an Eventex Award 2025 for its Kids Camp initiative in the Corporate Event category. Designed to support employees by engaging their children in a unique, cross-border experience, the programme reflects SOFTSWISS’ commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace. The recognition places the company alongside global leaders such as Disney, Nike, and Netflix, all recipients in this year’s awards.

Held in August 2024, the SOFTSWISS Kids Camp brought together 65 children of employees in the Masurian Lake District in Poland, an area renowned for its natural beauty. The week-long camp welcomed participants from SOFTSWISS development hubs in Warsaw and Poznań, as well as team members from Georgia, Cyprus, Germany, and other locations across Europe.

This initiative is part of the company’s people-first approach to HR and team culture. With a growing presence in Malta, one of Europe’s leading hubs for tech and iGaming talent, SOFTSWISS continues to raise the bar for employee wellbeing across its global teams. The Kids Camp programme is a testament to this, combining custom educational activities with a focus on cross-cultural understanding and family connection.

The camp featured immersive learning experiences, including a children’s hackathon that addressed real-world challenges like flooding in Brazil, and creative workshops aimed at fostering empathy and social awareness.

“One of my favourite aspects of this project was that the activities at the camp were not just fun and play, but also had an impact, where the children got to experience supporting their fellow humans,” said Shannon Jones, a jury member of the Eventex Award 2025.

Organising an eco-conscious, cross-border event for children and families within a hybrid workplace model posed logistical challenges. Still, SOFTSWISS successfully delivered a memorable and meaningful experience, one that aligns with its values of trust, diversity, and care.

“Kids Camp is a powerful example of how we care for our team beyond the workplace. It reflects our belief that a supportive culture embraces the whole person, not just the employee. At SOFTSWISS, we truly stand for the value of family, recognising it as an integral part of our people’s lives. This award reaffirms that meaningful, people-first initiatives rooted in care and connection can build stronger teams, lasting trust, and a genuine sense of belonging,”  mentioned Liudmila Glasunova, Co-Chief HR Officer at SOFTSWISS.

As SOFTSWISS expands its operations in Malta and beyond, the company remains committed to creating spaces that promote connection and well-being across borders. Initiatives like Kids Camp complement other efforts such as Movember and Pink October awareness drives, mental health programmes, professional development support, and regional events that unite employees in person, including in Malta, where the company’s presence continues to grow.

Now in its 15th edition, the Eventex Awards is one of the most recognised global celebrations in the events and experience industry. This year’s competition received 1,239 entries from 59 countries across six continents. For more information about SOFTSWISS and its award-winning campaigns, visit www.softswiss.com.

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Designed to reduce operational costs and improve sustainability, the Energy Audit Scheme, by the Ministry now offers grants ranging from €2,500 to €6,000, ensuring more businesses can benefit from tailored energy and water usage assessments. This grant will make it more feasible for companies to carry out Energy audits, across an increased number of sectors.

Minister for the Environment and Energy Miriam Dalli praised the initiative’s potential to accelerate Malta’s progress in sustainable innovation. “We are committed to continue guiding our enterprises toward a more responsible future. By making energy audits more accessible, we are paving the way for businesses to adopt cleaner practices, reduce their environmental footprint, and safeguard Malta’s resources for generations to come.”

Beyond facilitating efficiency gains, the updated Scheme dovetails with the Malta Engineering Excellence Award (MEEA), which celebrates outstanding achievements in energy and water conservation.

As part of the initiatives surrounding the engineering awards, a total of forty trees were planted in Milbrae Grove in Mosta, an initiative launched through EWA’s Energy and Water Sustainability in collaboration with the Chamber of Engineers. This award aims to recognise private enterprises that implement projects significantly impacting energy and water usage. The tree-planting initiative was attended by representatives from EWA. Also present were members of the Chamber of Engineers.

The winner for the 2024 Award was STMicroelectronics for its Implementation of Advanced Water & Wastewater Treatment, which introduced industrial wastewater recycling, reducing 52,000 m³ of imported water, equivalent to 32% of the company’s total raw water consumption for 2023. The first runner up were Eden Leisure Group and Second runner up were Crane Currency and Busy Bee LTD.

Over five editions, the Award has seen 22 nominations, reflecting Malta’s growing momentum in sustainable innovation.

Eng. Charles Buttigieg, Chief Policy Officer for the Energy and Water Agency, expressed his satisfaction with the increasing interest in the Energy and Water Sustainability Award, stating, “Year after year, it is truly rewarding to see a growing interest from companies in participating in these Awards and also in our Energy Audits Scheme. This not only fosters the adoption of innovative technologies and sustainable practices to reduce carbon footprint but also inspires more businesses to take part and contribute.”

For more information on the Energy Audit Scheme or to submit an application please visit the EWA website energywateragency.gov.mt/energyaudits/ or contact energyefficiency@gov.mt.

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Over the past five years, there has been steady and consistent growth in organic waste collection, thanks in part to several government initiatives, such as the launch of a new national waste collection schedule. With this investment, WasteServ continues to future-proof the country’s waste management infrastructure.

The new facility, expected to be commissioned by 2028, will have the capacity to process around 74,000 tonnes of organic waste annually. This waste will be converted into renewable energy in the form of electricity and high-quality compost, contributing to a more sustainable circular economy. In 2024 alone, 35,000 tonnes of organic waste were processed, marking an impressive 67% increase over two years.

WasteServ said it is already successfully processing organic waste into renewable energy and compost. In 2024, this process generated enough renewable energy to power 967 households for a year, and produced 2,701 tonnes of high-quality compost. The new facility will enhance these efforts, increasing both compost and renewable energy production.

“The Environmental Impact Assessment has already been completed, and it concluded that the project has net environmental benefits, with the site identified and cleared, ensuring that works can commence immediately once the tender is awarded. This investment underscores WasteServ’s commitment to advancing Malta’s waste management sector while supporting national sustainability goals,” said WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca.

The design of the plant, which will be located within the ECOHIVE Complex, has also been carefully considered to integrate with its surroundings, with the overall structure designed to blend in with the landscape through the introduction of a curved architectural screen made of glulam, a sustainably sourced timber and landscaping. Additionally, the facility will include an administration block and a laboratory.

Bidders interested in this project have until 10 June 2025 to submit their offers.

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Addressing the conference’s opening, ATTO Chairman Joseph Bugeja highlighted the sector’s evolution over the years, noting ATTO’s critical role in shaping policy and advocating for industry needs. Recalling past challenges faced by Maltese international road transport operators, he underscored the importance of structured dialogue between the government, authorities, and industry stakeholders.

“Notwithstanding the unique challenges that Malta, as an island economy, continues to face, the haulage sector has come a long way through collaboration and perseverance. ATTO remains committed to ensuring that the interests of our members are safeguarded as we transition into an era marked by sustainability and digital transformation,” said Mr Bugeja.

He also pointed to ATTO’s recent milestones, including increased membership, stronger alliances with international organisations, and deeper engagement with policymakers. While acknowledging the sector’s resilience, he noted that adapting to complex EU regulations, improving infrastructure, and embracing sustainability remain ongoing priorities.

The conference was also addressed by Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works Chris Bonett who reaffirmed the government’s support for the industry and commended ATTO’s role in ensuring that Malta remains competitive.

“The challenges faced by the transport sector require the united approach that ATTO has been showing through its commitment to dialogue and policy-driven solutions that push the industry forward. Investing in our country’s transport and logistics infrastructure is not a luxury but a necessity. This is why a stronger, more unified voice is essential for Malta to maintain its connectivity with the rest of the world,” Minister Bonett said.

The conference served as a platform for the signing of the first official Cooperation Agreement between ATTO and Transport Malta. The agreement, signed by Joseph Bugeja and Transport Malta CEO Kurt Farrugia, represents a significant step in ATTO’s efforts to continue strengthening Malta’s transport sector and fostering more dialogue with its main stakeholders.

Discussions at the conference focused on the EU’s decarbonisation targets and transport digitalisation, both presenting opportunities and challenges. While carbon neutrality is crucial, transitioning to battery-electric and alternative fuel vehicles requires significant investment and infrastructure upgrades. Digitalisation can enhance efficiency but demands robust regulatory frameworks and technological readiness.

Stakeholders, including the IRU, INAG, financial institutions, and logistics operators, stressed the need for pragmatic policies balancing sustainability and economic realities. Malta’s transition to carbon neutrality is complex, requiring multiple alternative fuels, greater efficiency, and multimodal cooperation.

In his closing address, Tony Mifsud, General Secretary of ATTO, underscored the transport sector’s vital role in Malta’s economy and the importance of a united front.

“As we navigate the challenges of decarbonisation and digitalisation, a strong, united voice is essential for Malta to remain connected globally and ensuring that the country’s needs are recognised internationally is key to the industry’s future. Together, we can advocate for tailored policies that address our unique needs and ensure our industry’s resilience,” concluded Mr Mifsud.

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