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It is with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation to attend and address the 1st CyFood Forum. Events like today's are very important for the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, because they serve one of our main objectives, which is to meet, to the greatest extent possible, the nutritional needs of both locals and visitors to our island. I believe that today's event can bring out possibilities, but also concerns around the issues of the agri-food sector and its relationship with both tourism and industry.
Today, more than ever, consumers are looking for quality products, safe, with high nutritional value. Cyprus, with its long tradition of producing both fresh and processed, quality agricultural products, can highlight this heritage, meet the needs of consumers and support gastronomic tourism.
Friends,
Our agricultural sector represents, in numbers, a small part of the country's Gross National Product. However, as is evident through the activities of today's Forum, it exerts a significant influence on other sectors of the economy, thereby multiplying its own value. In addition to helping to maintain the social fabric of rural areas and limiting urbanisation and desertification, agricultural activity protects and preserves the natural environment and landscape, and helps to limit climate change. It also provides the raw materials for our agri-food crafts and industry, and enriches and promotes Cyprus' tourism product.
As conditions have evolved in recent years, our agriculture is facing many challenges. The Government, and in particular the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, taking this into account, continues its multifaceted action and makes every effort to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. In order to support agricultural activity and the sustainable development of rural areas, the role of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027, with a total funding of €454 million, is expected to be decisive. The Strategic Plan includes Measures and Interventions that promote the sustainability and competitiveness of our agriculture. At the same time, they give the opportunity to existing and emerging agri-food processing enterprises to invest in acquiring or upgrading equipment in order to meet modern market and consumer requirements. In all cases, great emphasis is placed on introducing innovation and mitigating the impact of these activities on the environment.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, in line with EU policies, attaches particular importance to extending actions to reorganise and improve the functioning of the agri-food sector. Examples include the reform of the risk management sector in agricultural production, as well as legislation to tackle Unfair Commercial Practices in the agricultural and food supply chain and to improve the operation of Farmers' Markets for the benefit of farmers and consumers. Our aim is to preserve the unique identity of these products, to increase their export potential on international markets and to ensure fair prices for the producer. The registration of the name Halloumi as a Designation of Origin in the Union's Register of Geographical Indications is an important achievement for the Republic of Cyprus. It is a tool for protecting and preserving the name of the traditional Cypriot cheese and an obstacle to any attempt to usurp its reputation and commerciality. At the moment, the technical dossiers for Tertzielloithkia, Rodostigma Agrou and Cypriot Potato Kokkinogi for registration of their name as a Protected Geographical Indication are under examination by the European Commission, while the single document for Halitzia Tilliria has already been published by the Official Journal of the European Union and is in the process of submitting objections for registration of its name as a Protected Geographical Indication.
In addition to what I have mentioned, the draft bill for the establishment of a Cypriot label award scheme is in the final stage of legislative drafting in the Legal Service. The Cypriot label will give an additional boost to the Cypriot countryside, since it will essentially reflect the origin of products and give them a differentiated presence in the market, linked to the place of production and to the domestic raw material used for their preparation.
We are determined to breathe new life into the agricultural sector, to chart a new course that meets the needs and addresses the real problems of our agri-food sector. Our aim is to support rural communities to remain vibrant centres of economic, social and cultural development, combining agriculture, tourism and the protection of our natural environment.
I would like to congratulate the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company for organising this very important Forum. I expect that through it, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and other entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to come in contact with producers and build partnerships with multiple benefits for all. I hope that this effort will be successful and become an annual institution.
In conclusion, I would like to recommend to you, hoteliers and restaurateurs, to include in your products the traditional Cypriot products during the hospitality of tourists, both Cypriots and foreigners, such as zivania, soutziouko, halloumi, hams, etc, which are the flag, the identity of our Cyprus abroad.
Thank you.
(MGS)
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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