The government will have €100 million to assist the agro-food industry over the next five years, Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino said.

Speaking at a press conference at the Malta Dairy Products (MDP), Mr Pullicino said the figure represents an eight per cent increase in relation to the €33 million that were made available to Malta for rural development between 2004 and 2006.

Out of the budget allocated for this period, about €542,000 remained unspent due to lack of applications for funds on the part of farmers. A third public call was made for companies to tap into these funds and, in fact, the minister distributed the money to six companies.

One of the companies was the MDP, which will be investing in a new yoghurt pasteuriser. The company intends developing a new product but officials would not let slip any details of their planned dairy creation.