New Regulations Aim to Safeguard Malta’s Agricultural Land

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo has launched the 2025 Agricultural Land Protection Regulations, a comprehensive legal framework designed to ensure the sustainable use of one of Malta’s most critical natural resources: agricultural land.

Based on the 2022 White Paper on Agricultural Land Reform and the 2024 Agriculture Act, the regulations require land to be registered and actively cultivated according to good agricultural practices.

Unregistered land may be temporarily managed by the Malta Agricultural Resources Agency until a valid owner is identified.

Minister Refalo emphasised that the new rules aim to support, not hinder, local farmers.

“This is a crucial moment for the sector. We are safeguarding agricultural land not only to maintain food production but also to preserve our national identity,” he stated.

The regulations also prohibit the advertising or sale of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, reinforcing the land’s primary function, food production and the protection of rural heritage.

Registration is open from 28 July to 29 September 2025 at ruralaffairs.gov.mt/artagrikola.

Permanent Secretary Ronald Mizzi also spoke at the launch, linking the initiative to the Malta 2050 Vision, which treats agricultural land as a cornerstone of sustainability, biodiversity, and a stronger local economy.

Photo Creditss: DOI Kian Bugeja

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