From Farmers To Families: Lidl Malta Discusses The Future Of Food In Malta
Lidl Malta brought together representatives from agriculture, retail, academia and civil society for a stakeholder forum focused on strengthening local supply chains and developing practical solutions to food waste.
The event, titled "More than shopping: Delivering value across the board", was held at Fort St. Angelo and featured discussions on local food security, agricultural resilience and sustainable food systems.
The forum opened with a keynote address by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supply Minister Anton Refalo, who outlined national policies aimed at supporting local agriculture and improving the sustainability of Malta’s food systems.
A panel discussion, moderated by Vanessa MacDonald, brought together Lidl Malta Director Owen Micallef, Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi President and Farmers Central Co-operative Society representative Malcolm Borg, Friends of the Earth Malta representative Beth Fiteni, and University of Malta academic Prof. Suzanne Piscopo.
During the discussion, Micallef highlighted Lidl Malta’s efforts to strengthen relationships with local producers, including its long-standing partnerships with the Farmers Central Co-operative Society and a recent agreement with local pig breeders K.I.M to supply fresh Maltese pork to its stores.
“Delivering value goes far beyond offering the best prices on the shelf,” Micallef said, adding that retail can support farmers, strengthen local supply chains and contribute to environmental responsibility.
The forum also explored food waste reduction initiatives, including Lidl’s €3 Food Saving Bags, which provide surplus fresh produce at reduced prices while supporting Caritas Malta, and the Feed It Back programme, which redistributes quality surplus food to more than 10 local charities.
The event forms part of Lidl Malta’s wider sustainability efforts, with the retailer set to publish its first comprehensive Sustainability Magazine outlining its economic and environmental impact.
#MaltaDaily
