Malta Partners With Irish Experts To Strengthen Local Pig Farming Sector

Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, Anton Refalo has launched a new technical initiative aimed at supporting Malta’s pig farming sector through tailored consultancy services for farmers.

This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with CIHEAM Zaragoza, which has engaged pig farming specialists from TEAGASC, Ireland’s agriculture and food development authority.

The agreement seeks to enhance local production by providing technical advice to farmers and local consultants, including specialised training sessions and workshops. Given the similarities between the Irish and Maltese pig farming industries, the partnership is expected to introduce practices that are well adapted to Malta’s local conditions.

Two experts from TEAGASC Ciaran Carroll, Head of Knowledge Transfer for Pigs with over 30 years’ experience, and specialist consultant Emer McCrum – have already visited Malta twice as part of six planned visits. During these visits, they have met with cooperatives, held on-farm meetings, and delivered targeted workshops designed to help farmers adopt more sustainable and efficient practices.

As part of their work in Malta, the experts are conducting farm visits to better understand current practices and identify immediate challenges that can be addressed.

In the coming weeks, a Junior Technical Specialist will also be appointed to provide ongoing consultancy services to Maltese farmers, working in continuous collaboration with TEAGASC experts. Additionally, investment will be made in modern scanning systems to assist farmers in their daily work and boost overall efficiency.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, Anton Refalo, stated, “This agreement is an important step for the future of Malta’s pig farming sector. Through collaboration with international experts, we are equipping our farmers with the tools and support they need to improve productivity, strengthen profitability, and contribute directly to the country’s food security. The introduction of modern scanning systems, alongside tailored consultancy, will lead to greater stability in the sector and a more sustainable future.”

The initiative is expected to result in more consistent pork production, improved profitability for farmers, and ultimately higher-quality local meat for Maltese and Gozitan consumers.

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