Koperattiva Produtturi taz-Zebbug Limited: Genetic Resources Project
The idea to set up an organisation to unite the olive growers was launched by a Facebook post on 4th October, 2022 by Mr. Jimmy Magro. Several persons wrote in support of this idea. Mr. Magro then proceeded to call a meeting on the 18th November, 2022 to discuss the formation of an entity to unite the olive growers. During this meeting a resolution was approved to set up a Provisional Committee that was composed of six members.
At a later online meeting, held on the 9th December, 2022, and after seeking legal advice, the decision was taken to set up a cooperative, and the name was decided as Koperattiva Produtturi taz-Zebbug Limited.
Following intensive work, with the support of Koperattivi Malta, the Provisional Committee delivered the full documentation required to register the cooperative with the Cooperatives Board on 26th January, 2023.
The Koperattiva Produtturi taz-Zebbug Limited was registered on the 27th February, 2023.
Since then, the Cooperative has been involved in numerous initiatives in order to ensure the valorisation of the olive and olive oil sector in Malta and Gozo. The Cooperative has already gained local, national and international recognition for its active role in creating awareness about the holistic value of olive groves and extra virgin olive oil.
The number of members in the Cooperative has surpassed all expectations and now the Cooperative has a membership base of 114, representing a cross section of olive growers, including about 15 members that are classified as young farmers under the EU definition.
One of the projects that the Cooperative has embarked on is called Genetic Resources Project under Measure 10.2. of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The budget of the project exceeds €289,000 and is fully funded by the European Union. The budget has three main deliverables:
Although researchers have identified olive trees dating back in thousands of years, the olive sector has been revived by Mr. Sam Cremona, who in the Seventies carried out what is known as the PRIMO Project. The project was supported by Bank of Valletta plc. Through the PRIMO project thousands of olive trees were distributed to farmers and from then the olive sector was revived again. The project had also envisaged applications to the EU to obtain the PDO and the PGI for extra virgin olive oil produced in Malta; and the Government had also planned to register the germplasm of the local cultivars and set up a gene bank.
The Cooperative has taken the initiative to submit the application for the registration of the PDO and PGI for extra virgin olive oil produced in Malta. This work is being carried out together with the Confederation of Farmers and Fisherman of Gozo, and the Malta Food Agency. Discussions are now ongoing with the Malta Competition and Consumers Affairs Authority, the competent authority for these matters.
The establishment of the National Gene Bank for the conservation of indigenous and endemic plants has been financially supported through the EAFRD and the implementation of Sub-Measure 10.2 of the Rural Development Programme for Malta for the programming period 2014-2020. Malta has its first National Gene Bank, which will serve as a national repository for plant genetic diversity. The national gene bank will serve to conserve and facilitate access to local plant varieties, landraces, heirloom varieties, crop wild relatives and other wild plant genetic diversity for use in agriculture, research and conservation activities. The facility will store seeds, as well as plant tissues for in vitro storage and cryo-preservation and complement the existing infrastructure at the Plant Protection Directorate as the Competent Authority for Genetic Resources to produce and store artificial seeds. The gene bank will have the role to generate and analyse genetic diversity for the germplasm stored within its chambers, therefore filling large gaps in the knowledge of national plant genetic heritage. The availability of germplasm and a genetic database will contribute to the efforts being carried out worldwide that contribute to food security as well as to develop new varieties which are resilient to common problems such as drought, high soil salinity, changing climates, disease outbreaks, and nutritional efficiency, amongst others.
The Genetic Resources Project being carried out by the Cooperative will be an additional contribution to the efforts being carried out by the Plant Protection Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. The Cooperative will also cooperate with other countries who have experience in the registration of olive tree germplasm, as well as the International Olive Council. The Cooperative has been approved as a member of the Advisory Committee of the International Olive Council, and this shall lead to greater international cooperation for the benefit of the olive sector in Malta.
With regards to the educational and awareness campaign, the Cooperative has launched an advertising campaign on print and social media, adverts on route public buses, and will continue to use other public relations tools to deliver its message to the public in Malta and Gozo. The campaign has been very effective and has enabled the Cooperative to increase its membership base by more then 35 members. Anyone interested in joining the Cooperative may send an email to [email protected]
