Is more farmland set to go down the drain?

Abstract

Foodwise, the Maltese islands constantly skate on thin ice. Local fields produce less than a fifth of what the population consumes, with the lion’s share of our food being imported. Agricultural production in this country hinges on an average soil depth of half a metre, courtesy of unbridled grazing in bygone days. To compound matters ever further, in the post-war period, there has been a relentless sealing of soil under concrete, to the tune of 84 hectares per year (equivalent to almost one square kilometre) up till 2002, according to Malta Environment and Planning Authority statistics.