Conference held on organic agriculture & eco-Gozo

The Ministry for Gozo in collaboration with the Malta Organic Agriculture Movement (MOAM) organised an international conference on organic agriculture and eco-Gozo.

This conference was held in light of government’s vision to make Gozo an ecological island and in the coming days will meet the European Group of the International Federation of Movements on Organic Agriculture (IFOAM-EU). At their meeting, which is held every six months, participants will discuss ongoing issues and the development of new European policies in agriculture.

During a speech made at the opening of this conference, the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono said that this conference will present a unique opportunity of information on organic agriculture and its significance for achieving sustainable development. She stressed that agriculture remains one of the most healthy economic pillars of the island and goes toward the eco-Gozo vision.

She also said that organic agriculture does not just mean chemical free organic practices, but also a quality of life that translates into a more positive output for the farmer. The Minister added that sustainable agriculture in Gozo adds to the value of the unique identity of the island and has a direct effect on the landscape, the sector of employment and tourism.

The conference was addressed by speakers from Malta, Iceland, Belgium, Slovenia, Hungary and Germany and dealt with various topics including alternative energy, organic farming, global and local challenges of an ecological island and European regulations on certification of organic products.The conference was attended by people from different sectors including agriculture, environment, tourism, business, students and the general public.

This conference concluded with the official opening of a collective exhibition of art with the theme ‘Perspectives of an Ecological Island,’ with works by four Maltese and Gozitan artists with the theme of the natural beauty of Gozo. These works testify to the environment and rural characteristics of the island which are fundamental terms and is the key to the eco-Gozo concept.