On 24th February, during a visit to Malta, the Director of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (IAMB), Dr. Cosimo Lacirignola, met with the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, the Hon. Roderick Galdes. During the meeting a memorandum of understanding was signed under which the Institute will provide Malta with the technical assistance required for the enhancement of Maltese agricultural food products. This will also help record and safeguard the territorial origin of production in the rural areas according to the most recent EU regulations.
Through this memorandum the Institute, which is a centre of excellence in the field of high-level training and technical and scientific advice, will contribute to enhancing the local capacities in the agricultural sector and encourage further collaboration with Italy.
The Director pointed out that the experience gained by some Italian regions, in particular Puglia, can serve to reinforce the added value and qualify the products that fall under the new brand of quality, also in view of Malta’s participation in Milan EXPO 2015.
The meeting, which was attended by the Italian Ambassador Giovanni Umberto De Vito, was followed by a conference on the promotion of Maltese agricultural food produce. Various experts and consultants from the IAMB as well as local representatives participated.
