2020 Cyprus Country Report

Agriculture & Food
Sector Profile
FOSTERING
Sustainable Farming
Innovative thinking focused on quality and sustainability is filtering into Cyprus
agriculture, supporting the growth of superfood crops, the fight against climate change
and the development of unique exports which are all helping to transform the sector.
Over the last two years, Cyprus has
introduced a number of initiatives to
boost the agricultural sector in areas
such as water and waste management,
smart farming, environmental
protection and new measures
to ensure better animal welfare. In
addition, the country is focusing
on protecting and promoting quality traditional
products worldwide, which will soon be marked
with a new national and official ‘seal of origin’ to
identify products made by the local agricultural
sector using local raw materials.
Nurturing resource-efficient farming and focusing
on quality rather than quantity are key
aims going forward into a new decade. The government
has invested heavily in modernising and
reorganising the overall agricultural sector with
the help of generous EU funds and provided additional
support to the sector through various
programmes and subsidies. This overhaul of the
agricultural sector is being conducted with the
rural development programme co-funded by
the EU and Cyprus, 52% and 48% respectively.
More than €485 million is expected through the
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) between
2014 and 2020, with further funds for modernisation
and development under the new CAP
from 2021 to 2027. The programme is open to
all sectors for investment in the primary and
secondary sectors, including organic farming,
training, promotion, agritourism and applying
for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status.
Cyprus agriculture is definitely seeing a revival
into a more efficient and value-added industry
with the help of innovation and investment in renewable
energy and smart tech, and with a business-minded
younger generation keen to capture
new markets around the world and capitalise on
the future potential of this sector.
HIGH-VALUE PRODUCE
With today’s strong focus on healthy eating
trends, Cyprus has seized the opportunity to
achieve commercial success in niche markets
by the systematic cultivation of long-overlooked
fruit and vegetables – and bring back traditional
local varieties of grapes to expand its rapidly developing
wine industry. Long renowned for its
citrus fruit, potatoes and olives, Cyprus is also
becoming associated with high-value produce
such as prickly pears, pomegranates, carobs, aloe
vera and others that grow well in the island’s dry
climate.
KEY
contacts
Ministry of Agriculture,
Rural Development
and Environment
www.moa.gov.cy
50 Country Report CYPRUS 2020