One World - State of the environment

Organic farming - what percentage of Malta's agriculture is organic?
Organic farming involves environmentally-friendly agricultural production, which uses no (or little amounts of) pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. In the Maltese Islands the total land surface used for organic methods of production registered with the Organic Farming Unit has increased, and 14 hectares have been registered by 20 farmers so far; but this still represents only 0.09 per cent of total agricultural land. Of the registered land 79 per cent had obtained certification by mid-2005. Financial aid to crop-growing farmers with certified land is available through the Rural Development Plan. By the end of 2002, four per cent of the EU's total agricultural area was used for organic agriculture.

The State Of the Environment Report 2005 is a MEPA publication available on www.mepa.org.mt