The farming community saw little progress as a result of EU membership despite previously unseen amounts of money invested in the sector, according to the report.

Lead author Patrick Tabone noted that the agricultural sector was at a disadvantage, especially within the context of the EU’s common agricultural policy that favoured large farm holdings.

But Mr Tabone pointed out that special subsidies to farmers negotiated with the EU as a transitory measure to compensate for increased competition were seen by many as “an extended payday” and not an opportunity to specialise, invest and reform.

“This time should have been spent planning, preparing and training... supporting our farmers’ efforts to gear up for competition by guiding them towards niche products and incentivising the creation of higher value added through better product preparation, packaging and processing.”

Mr Tabone said that, despite the newfound attention to the sector pressed by EU membership, progress was not made at the rate that “one would have wished for” in a number of sub-sectors.