Malta Food Agency is the government agency tasked with coordinating and assuring the utmost quality and security of supply in three major areas relating to food in Malta, namely farming (pitkalija), fisheries (pixkerija), and farmers' markets. This wide scope gives the Malta Food Agency a 360-visual of all locally sourced food on the island.

“The aim of the agency is to promote and operate the sales and marketing of food from farming and fisheries while supporting all the players along the way, guaranteeing a sound and efficient food system. This brings with it its own challenges, but we are pleased to see both consumers and participants in the market responding well to our efforts,” says Josephine Schembri, Chief Officer Market Regulation at the Malta Food Agency.

Josephine Schembri is dedicated to enhancing the valorisation of local produce and improving the quality of fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish in locally organised markets.

The work of the Malta Food Agency is underpinned by a constant commitment to transparency. “Over the past years we have been driven by a responsibility towards transparency and traceability, which provides the necessary peace of mind to all involved in the supply chain. Through systems introduced, we ensure that consumers are informed and guaranteed about the provenance of the products they purchase and consume in terms of labelling and product coding, providing unprecedented information about producers. Likewise, farmers and fishermen are provided with detailed information about the sale of their products, ensuring that they receive fair payment for their hard work.”

Josephine is no stranger to the agricultural world. Growing up, she had the opportunity to be in direct contact with agricultural sector. In fact, she was exposed to the production of local traditional products, as she comes from a long line of butchers from her father’s side. Her mother on the other hand always prioritized and took pride in the production of secondary products, learning the values of sustainability, hard work, and natural food.

Her commitment to the agricultural sector remained steadfast in her academic pursuit as she studied economics and marketing specialising in the agricultural sector at Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, followed by a Master’s Degree at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Piacenza. Her work experience over the last 20 years in the sector, exposed her to all the facets and detail of the sector, as she worked directly with different stakeholders.

“Through a series of initiatives, we have reached out to our farmers and fishermen, to create a relationship of collaboration which benefits everyone in the long run. This understanding has allowed us to continue to improve the quality of our products which we are pleased to note, are being truly appreciated for their superior quality and not only for their pricing. We also introduced a higher standard in all the processes involved, including food hygiene practices such as cleanliness,  pest control amongst others to ensure professional, world-class product quality. Sometimes it boils down to attention to detail, which makes all the difference.”

“We are also intent on helping our farmers up their game when it comes to competing with other traded and  imported counterparts, in terms of marketing, packaging and general presentation. We truly believe that our local product has all that it takes to compete on the market and only requires a small push in presentation to make it shine the way it deserves,” Josephine elucidates.

And farmers are taking the lead, as they are actively reacting very well to this  attitude. “We are sometimes surprised to note new products arriving to our market, which were previously non-existent. We are now all used to produce such as sweet potatoes, raspberries, innovative varieties of fruits and vegetables including in the period of production months, but we must realise that these are only the product of our farmers’ continuous hard work and dedication to the craft. Naturally, as an agency we are tasked to investigate such products to ensure that they would truly be locally produced, to ascertain honesty all along.”

Sustainability is another value the Malta Food Agency takes extremely seriously. In fact, the agency operates a system where it reduces waste to the absolute minimum across the process. “Food, which is not sold for a reason or another, is either passed on as donations to charitable organisations and NGOs active in the social sphere, while other foods which would be beyond consumption quality is then transformed into compost which is in turn returned to farmers, closing off the circle, while ensuring traceability and accountability throughout the whole process,” Josephine explains.

With an unprecedented €28 million registered in sales last year, at the Ta’ Qali pitkalija alone, matters are very encouraging. “We are seeing a positive swell among all stakeholders which fills us with enthusiasm to continue working towards an equitable, sustainable locally sourced food market that prioritises quality.

The Agency is also active on the international stage on a series of initiatives to promote the sector. Along with other initiatives, it is currently actively participating in the EU-funded Excel4MED as a partner. The four-year initiative focuses on ensuring the production of nutritious food through cross-border collaboration among 14 organisations in Greece, Malta, and France. This collaboration aims to strengthen Mediterranean food added-value chains through interconnected innovation ecosystems involving numerous players,” Josephine reveals.

“Although as a sector we have progressed immensely, it is important to remain grounded. We must continue to take the right decisions to ensure that we continue meeting food safety requirements and mandatory standards to further strengthen the sector,” she concludes.