Swimming and even breathing in the vicinity of Maghtab are not recommended. The next health hazard to be investigated concerns vegetables grown in nearby fields.

A preliminary study has shown the rate of birth deformities to be higher in a radius around the waste mountain. It has been an item of concern for some time that crops grown for human consumption in the fields surrounding the rubbish dump may pose a food safety risk. Maghtab is one of two hotspots in a soil analysis that has been under way in the Maltese Islands since March 2002.

The other hotspot under observation is the area being irrigated with effluent from the Sant'Antnin sewage treatment plant. At present the second-class water is still too high in salt content which is problematic for both the soil and the water table.

Unlike most European countries, the Maltese Islands do not have a tradition of soil survey and cartography. The only assessment of the soil status of the Maltese Islands on a national level was made in the late 1950s. Up until now farmers have had access to limited soil testing facilities at Ghammieri.

"MALSIS shall fill this information gap", announced the Minister for Rural Affairs and Environment at a seminar on the development of a soil information system for the Maltese Islands. Mr Pullicino is faced with the huge task of adjusting to European standards for agriculture and environment, the two sectors which combined, take up eighty per cent of the acquis communitaire.

Dr Derek Fee, representing the EC Delegation at the seminar, observed that Malta's environmental problems will not be solved in a day or by totally local resources. MALSIS is an important step towards getting information not just to professionals but also to the wider public domain. Dr Fee advised that Malta should look closely at the many programs aimed at helping accession countries with development policies over the next seven years.

British High Commissioner Vincent Fean referred to the financial action plan relaunched in May which is already providing assistance for hazardous waste management in Malta. The MALSIS project could well qualify for aid in this sphere, especially if Malta were to choose UK as an EU-funded project partner.

The MALSIS project for soil monitoring aims to build up capacity within existing structures and promote transfer of knowledge through technical assistance. A permanent soil unit is to be established within the Agricultural Services Laboratory by next year. If sufficient capacity is built then the extended project will provide support to the Rural Development Plan and the Nitrate Action Plan.

Compliance with the Nitrate Directive will oblige the Maltese Government to introduce a Code of Good Agricultural Practice that includes advice on nitrogen management. This will spell out maximum levels and correct timing of nitrogen and manure applications for different crops and soil conditions.

The whole of the Maltese Islands have been declared a "less favoured area" qualifying for modest compensation on grounds of environmental constraints. The EU strategy for soil protection was spelt out by Luca Montanarella of the Institute for Environment and Sustainability within the Joint Research Centre.

Precious resource

Soil changes from place to place which lends a strong local perspective. It cannot be replaced and is considered to be a non-renewable resource, therefore the principle of prevention and precaution must be applied. Its function is not just restricted to agriculture as soil not only provides food but also biomass and a major sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Soil plays a role in filtering and transformation while providing a physical and cultural environment for mankind. It is important as a habitat and gene pool as we still do not know all the organisms which live in soil.

The top three problems for European soil are erosion, soil contamination and decline in organic matter. The latter is of particular concern in the Mediterranean where due to high temperatures, organic carbon is low.

The Biowaste Directive encourages the use of compost on land yet nutrient depletion continues to be a major problem. Crop rotation guidelines could help ease the problem.

The Mediterranean region is particularly susceptible to soil erosion. Soils in Mediterranean coastal areas are under strong pressure, often sealed in by infrastructure. Erosion, decline in organic matter and soil contamination are the top three problems for soils Europe-wide. Last year the general focus was on determining the amount of soil contamination in Europe's soils. So far 180 million hectares of farmland in Europe have been found to be contaminated with pesticides. The problem of nitrates and phosphates, resulting from wrong application of fertilisers, is on a similar scale.

In countries where heavy machinery is used, particularly Eastern Europe, soil compaction is a problem while natural disasters such as floods and landslides also take their toll. Flood risk is linked to the way the land is used and managed.

In response to these threats a proposal is being designed for a monitoring directive for approval by June next year. This will lead to an EU policy on soil alongside the existing policies on air and water. Soil policy must be integrated into policies on environment, agriculture, transport, development, regions, research and the single market.

"We will be able to better plan our afforestation projects and have detailed knowledge of the quality and retention capabilities of soils overlying our water resources, noted the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr Philip von Brockdorff.

The need for a soil assessment was flagged in Malta's first State of the Environ-ment Report issued in 1999 and the Nitrate Impact Assessment (2001). Sustainability indicators were another signal. All pointed to the need for a soil parameters to be collected, analysed and mapped in readiness for the setting up of National Soil Unit.

MALSIS project manager Sonya Vella oversees three teams carrying out survey work. Laboratory and information systems at the government experimental farm. The project has identified soils suffering from high salinity, erosion, overloading of nutrients and contamination.

The first phase of collecting samples has been completed and soil lab analysis is underway. This will be followed by another four stages leading up to what is known as a Geopgraphical User Interface which brings together different data sets including environmental ones. Moira Bonello, who is responsible for most of the analytical work, described how the soil sample was dried, sieved and archived under controlled climate conditions.

The national survey of soil is based on a grid of one-kilometre squares covering the islands. Soil collectors dig a hole up to 80 cm deep to observe and record the colour, texture and other features of each layer. The national soil grid is almost complete and work on the hotspots is at the halfway mark.

From the point of view of a physical environment for people to enjoy, the survey includes fifteen types of landscape based on terracing and in relation to geology. MALSIS will record the high degree of variability in landscape found in the Maltese rural environment, an asset in its own right and deserving of protection. The need for designation of areas of agricultural value highlighted by MEPA will have a greater chance of being fulfilled once we have the necessary data.

The laboratory will be looking at heavy metals such as copper, cadmium, chromium, nickel, zinc and lead to establish background levels in view of sewage sludge regulations. Any application of sludge from treated sewage must not exceed background levels. Measuring of heavy metals has so far been completed on 34 out of the 331 sites on the grid.

The information gathered is also expected to shed more light on ground water vulnerability and pesticide leaching. scheduling crop rotation guidelines. The soil project can help select crops for suitable land. One farmer claimed that although tomatoes were less productive they could be of higher quality when grown on soil of a fairly high salinity. Knowing more about the state of the soil will help farmers choose the right amount and season for applications fertiliser.

Dr Stephen Hallet of the National Soil Resources Institute based at Cranfield University, UK said that regarding data, Malta could be in a better position than many other existing EU countries. He advised that attention be given to looking after soil samples in very hot weather to avoid contamination.

Capers, thyme and the Maltese ox

"Agriculture has always been the Cinderella when it came to funding" said Tony Meli, chief scientific officer, Rural Development Department, in a reference to the sudden availability of potential EU funds. "If we don't use them we are going to lose them", he hastened to add. Among the funding possibilities for full-time farmers are ad hoc measures specifically intended to shoulder the shock of entry to the EU.

Maltese agriculture cannot be sustained without a dramatic improvement in both competitiveness and quality. Farmers must now face the challenge by diversifying their source of income and marketing their products more effectively. It is hoped that financial engineering will be made available, providing farmers with the same opportunities as small businesses.

Environment-friendly production methods in line with rural heritage is one of three priority areas government has chosen to work on within the Rural Development. Specific short term objectives of the plan include limiting soil erosion and stopping the water table from getting any more saline. Eligible farmers will be paid €20 per square metre to restore and maintain rubble walls as a means of reducing soil erosion.

The measure to increase bio-diversity under the Agri-Environment section of the aid plan can help conserve species such as the Maltese ox (gendus). Forester Charles Grech also recommended that high value local crops such as caper and thyme could be grown.

Training, which is funded through the Ministry of Social Policy is available to applicants with a business plan. Preference is given to projects which include young farmers, animal welfare and environmental considerations. Facilitators will be provided to help make the complex application process easier to understand.

Mr Meli hoped that the Rural Development Department would be given the required personnel, office space and relevant funding to allow it to become the supporting pillar for rural affairs.

Dennis Kasap, MEPA planning officer, spoke on the challenges of planning rural development. "One of the key issues we face is the pressure on the countryside of future buildings and small structures requiring a rural location." He said there was a need to take the broader policies of the structure plan and interpret them according to spatial context. The Structure Plan makes provision for different spatial contexts such as Areas of Ecological Importance and Areas of High Landscape Value.

Agriculture is the main land use taking up 34% of total land area but most farmers are part-time, with less than one hectare. This means more pressure for small scale structures like reservoirs and stores. Voluntary land reparcelling could help make better use of resources.

Project director George Carbone said that MALSIS was a result-oriented project with clear benefits made possible by the LIFE Third Country fund. As an EU member Malta will now be able to participate more fully in the LIFE programme.