The Gozo Confederation for Agriculture and Fisheries (GCAF) has published a new discussion document examining how Gozo’s farming sector can remain viable, resilient and economically relevant between 2027 and 2038.
“Learning How to Grow Within Our Limits – The Challenge of Farming in a Region Restricted by Space and Resources” starts from a simple reality: Gozo cannot continuously expand its land, water, labour and infrastructure. The question, therefore, is not simply how agriculture can become bigger, but how it can create more value from the resources already available.
Growing without getting bigger
The paper explores the idea of “growing without getting bigger”. Growth can come through better quality, specialist products, improved management, stronger cooperation, processing, better links with buyers, skills and knowledge, and more productive use of scarce resources.
Particular attention is given to Gozo’s double insularity. Gozitan farmers operate not only on a small island but on an island that itself depends heavily on Malta for services, administration, inputs, transport and access to wider markets. This can create additional costs and practical barriers that are not always visible in national averages.
The discussion document considers several areas that could shape the future of the sector, including:
- creating greater value rather than focusing only on production volume;
- developing specialist and higher-value Gozitan products;
- cooperation between independent farmers for machinery, logistics, storage and other services;
- better management, information and digital tools;
- water and resource productivity;
- stronger links between local agriculture, hospitality and tourism;
- processing more agricultural value within Gozo; and
- supporting young farmers, skills development and long-term succession.
Learning from other islands – while developing a Gozo model
The report also examines experiences from Corsica, the Balearic Islands, Crete, Sardinia and smaller Mediterranean islands. These provide lessons on product quality and origin, recognition of insularity costs, links between tourism and local food, water management and generational renewal.
However, the paper stresses that Gozo should not simply copy another island. Its small scale and double-insular position require solutions designed around its own circumstances.
Starting a wider discussion
This is not a fixed programme or final strategy. It is intended to provide a basis for discussion with farmers, livestock breeders, sector organisations, buyers, researchers, public bodies and the wider Gozitan community.
GCAF believes that the long-term discussion should ultimately focus on a fundamental question:
What should a viable, resilient and competitive Gozitan farm look like in 2038?
The document proposes an evidence-led approach: understand the problems, measure Gozo-specific constraints, test practical ideas, learn from what works and build future action around evidence and the experience of those working in the sector.
Read the full GCAF Discussion Document:
Learning How to Grow Within Our Limits – 2027–2038 (PDF)