About Us
The Food Systems Directorate, within the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights (MAFA), was established in mid-2023. Over time, the team has grown to include members from diverse backgrounds, including marketing, law, public policy, environmental management, and natural sciences.
This multidisciplinary expertise allows the Directorate to bring together different skills and perspectives to achieve a common goal: driving sustainability and building resilience across the entire food chain.
Guided by the core vision – nurturing pride in what we eat – the Directorate collaborates with all stakeholders in the food system, including producers, processors, retailers, importers, traders, caterers, chefs, policymakers, regulatory agents, and service providers. At the heart of this work is the consumer, whose interests remain our top priority.
Our Mission and Vision
Our mission is to strengthen Malta’s food system by promoting long-term sustainability, resilience, and healthy choices. We strive to create a system that is fair and respectful to consumers, producers, and the environment—both now and in the future.
Sustainability begins with financial viability. We believe that for food system operators to prioritize environmental and social responsibility, they must first be economically sustainable. Building resilience is equally essential. This means ensuring that our systems, mechanisms, and processes can withstand unexpected challenges and disruptions, guaranteeing an uninterrupted food supply at all times.
We envision a society that makes informed and responsible food choices, fostering sustainability and resilience. Through education, innovation, and community engagement, we aim to strengthen Malta’s food systems, promote sustainable practices, and support local producers. In doing so, we strive to drive lasting positive change.
The local consumer is at the heart of everything we do. Both our mission and vision are guided by an understanding of people’s needs and expectations, ensuring that the food system evolves to address their challenges and provide meaningful solutions.
What we do?
The Food Systems Directorate has two key roles: a strategic role focused on policy development and a public engagement role centered on communication and outreach.
Shaping Policy for a Resilient Food System
Our strategic role involves policymaking to shape a more resilient food chain for future generations. Ensuring sustainability across the entire food system means adopting food production methods that respect the environment, fostering a culture where nutritious eating becomes a natural choice, and securing access to fresh, wholesome, and locally produced food whenever possible.
This is why we develop policy. By collaborating closely with governmental bodies, stakeholders, and international organisations, we design policies, plans, and incentives that encourage the necessary changes to balance the food supply system and enhance its resilience.
Engagement and Communication: Bringing Policy to the People
Policy is only effective when it resonates with the people it serves. This is why public engagement and communication are central to our work. We maintain direct contact with key industry players, including farmers, food producers, and the catering sector to ensure that policies are practical, understood, and adopted.
A policy that is not embraced in daily life remains ineffective. That is why we work to ensure that our policies and guidelines reflect public needs and expectations, making them easier to implement. Through organised events, promotional campaigns, and outreach activities, we engage with diverse audiences across society, fostering dialogue and collaboration.
Supporting the Food Industry in Practice
Beyond policymaking and engagement, we provide hands-on support to local food industry stakeholders. We help implement sustainable practices across the food system by offering resources, guidance, and access to funding, markets, training, and advisory opportunities.
Through partnerships with stakeholders and other organisations, we ensure that those on the ground have the necessary tools and knowledge to make informed, sustainable decisions—ultimately creating a food system that benefits everyone.
