Bilateral meeting with H.E. Anton Refalo, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights of the Republic of Malta

Rome – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met with H.E. Anton Refalo, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights of the Republic of Malta, on the margins of the AU-EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference hosted at FAO Headquarters in advance of the 44th Session of the FAO Ministerial Conference.

The Director-General welcomed Minister Refalo to FAO and expressed appreciation for Malta’s continued support for FAO’s work in addressing global food insecurity. He acknowledged Malta’s active engagement in FAO’s work and its contribution to global agrifood systems, in particular by sharing experiences and technical knowledge with Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Minister Refalo provided an overview of the agricultural, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors in Malta, describing as an example, the country’s expertise in sustainable tuna production. He highlighted Malta’s unique experience, technical expertise, and the global reputation of Maltese tuna, which builds on its unique location in Mediterranean waters.

The discussion also addressed Malta’s innovative approaches to farming in the context of water scarcity. The Director-General recognized Malta’s expertise in this area and emphasized the importance of sharing such knowledge with other countries facing similar environmental constraints.

Minister Refalo described the nature of farming across Malta, including on the island of Gozo, noting the heritage and specific challenges and opportunities of agricultural production in small island contexts, and expressed interest in further collaboration with FAO to support sustainable development in these areas.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation between Malta and FAO, particularly in areas of innovation, sustainable fisheries, and climate-resilient agriculture.