2020 Cyprus Country Report

u Cyprus cannot compete
with countries that
produce huge volumes
at low cost, but what
the country can excel
at is quality, organic
farming, bioproduction
and superfoods
u To promote the quality
of Cyprus’ agricultural
products, the government
has pushed to register
more PDOs and other
international quality logos
that attest to specific
traditions and qualities
of food, agricultural
products and wines
u Around 70 wineries
produce award-winning
wines in the foothills
and high-altitudes of
the Troodos mountains
– establishing some
as the highest altitude
vineyards in Europe
u Younger educated
people are now entering
what is seen as a
cutting-edge sector
u Farmers have enjoyed
greater water security in
recent years thanks to
the latest desalination
and recycling technology
u Aquaculture activities
in Cyprus are expected
to treble by 2023,
contributing to food
supply, environmental
protection and
employment.
The ARI, which cooperates with numerous
international organisations and has five experimental
stations in Cyprus, is also conducting
research on how Cyprus can produce a bigger
biodiversity of crops while improving yield,
quality, resilience and taste. The objective is to
increase the biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems
by looking at traditional species no longer
grown in Cyprus, as these old species – genotypes
– have suitable characteristics to diversify
crops and also improve the quality of products
that can be enjoyed by consumers. Scientists
from this European research project are testing
an experimental breeding technology aimed at
identifying plants adapted to Cyprus’ scorching
heat and lack of water. In an experimental field
that covers some 11 hectares, more than 20 varieties
are grown, including corn, barley, ancient
wheat, chickpeas and cowpeas. The more promising
candidates will be naturally crossed among
them to produce drought-resistant varieties. The
project’s aim is to help local farmers expand their
offering to potential new markets, and researchers
predict that new crops could become a market
reality in Europe by 2023.
DEVELOPING AQUACULTURE
Cyprus has a longstanding fisheries tradition and
history despite its limited contribution to GDP.
However, aquaculture is an important activity
constituting around 80% in terms of both value
and volume of the total fisheries production.
The aquaculture sector has nine marine offshore
farms and seven inland farms located in Troodos
mountain area, as well as three marine fish hatcheries,
one shrimp hatchery and two other inland
units culturing ornamental fish.
Marine fish production (mariculture) in open
sea cage farms accounts for some 90% of the total
sales value, and steady growth in this sector due
to strong marketing on both a local and international
level is likely to attract further investment.
The main commercially cultured marine
species are the gilthead seabream and European
seabass, accounting for around 70% and 30%
respectively of total production. Around 65% of
the total national production of marine species is
exported to markets in Europe, the Middle East
and the US, with the rest consumed domestically.
The main factors favouring the development
of the aquaculture sector are the good environmental
and climatic conditions of Cyprus,
availability of adequate sea areas at a reasonable
distance from the coastline, and the existence
of appropriate infrastructure, skilled human resources
and access to research facilities in Cyprus.
Financing from the European Maritime and
Fisheries Fund (EMFF) supports the aquaculture
sector’s competitiveness and environmental
sustainability, mainly through the development
of joint support facilities and infrastructures, investment
to increase the efficiency of aquaculture
units, promotion of aquaculture products in new
markets and the development of maritime spatial
planning. According to the EMFF, aquaculture
activities in Cyprus are expected to treble by
2023, contributing to food supply, environmental
protection and employment.
REVITALISING VITICULTURE
Cyprus has been producing wines since 3,500
BC which were widely traded in the Eastern
Mediterranean region and the Aegean Sea.
Perhaps the best known ancient variety of
Cyprus wine is Commandaria, a unique dessert
wine made from sun-dried Xynisteri and Mavro
grapes and reputedly enjoyed by Richard the
Lionheart on his way to the crusades. The wine
holds the distinction of the world’s oldest named
wine still in production and is documented as far
back as 800 BC, while the name Commandaria
dates back to the 12 th century crusades. In the
1980s the country embarked on a campaign to
eradicate local grapes in favour of foreign varieties,
such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Merlot,
Grenache and Syrah in the belief that they would
be more exportable. Fortunately, the trend was
reversed after Cyprus joined the EU in 2004
and with the Union’s focus on highlighting local
produce of its member states. A programme was
adopted to save native varieties that have been
grown for centuries and were in danger of becoming
extinct.
Efforts to save the heritage of Cypriot viticulture
has seen enormous success, and with the
country now producing interesting vintages, the
reputation of Cyprus wine and this new territory
is growing rapidly worldwide. Four different
wine regions have been designated as producing
their own unique product with controlled appellations
of origin. In each case, different proportions
of indigenous Cypriot red grapes such as
Maratheftiko, Ofthalmo or Mavro, or the white
grape Xynisteri, are blended with smaller quantities
of specified foreign varieties such as Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah or Merlot. The
unique native varieties and local character of
Cyprus wines reflect the country’s terroir – which
is also one of the few places left in the world that
is free from phylloxera, the pest dreaded by winemakers
worldwide.
The wine scene has developed dramatically in
recent years, with around 70 wineries producing
award-winning wines in the foothills and highaltitudes
of the Troodos mountains – establishing
some as the highest altitude vineyards in Europe.
Sector Profile
Country Report CYPRUS 2020 53