Koperattivi Malta plays a central role in EXCEL4MED by helping translate the project’s research, stakeholder engagement, and consumer insights into practical action within Malta’s agri-food sector. Through its involvement in EXCEL4MED, Koperattivi Malta has gained valuable knowledge on Mediterranean citrus supply chains, sustainability challenges, food waste, consumer behaviour, and the importance of creating stronger links between producers and consumers.

 

One of the most tangible outcomes connected to this learning process is the launch of Malta’s first FoodCoop in October 2025. The FoodCoop also benefits EXCEL4MED by giving the project a visible and long-term example of its impact in Malta. The contribution of the Malta Food Agency, as an enabler within the project, has been important in supporting the conditions for the FoodCoop’s establishment and growth. Through this collaboration, the initiative shows how local institutions, cooperatives, and European projects can work together to strengthen sustainable food systems.

As the first initiative of its kind in Malta, the FoodCoop represents more than a retail space. It is a practical model for rethinking how communities’ access fresh produce, reduce unnecessary waste, and support local producers. Its development shows how EXCEL4MED’s work can continue creating value beyond the project’s formal implementation, while also strengthening Koperattivi Malta’s long-term role in promoting cooperative, sustainable, and community-centred food systems.

 

This article is a part series of the EXCEL4MED project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, which aims to boost innovation in the agri-food sector across Malta, Greece, and France. With its website now fully available in French, Italian, Spanish, and English, more stakeholders, including researchers, producers, policymakers, and consumers, can engage with the project in the language they feel most comfortable with. Read more on: https://excel4med.eu/.

 

Koperattivi Malta is proud to support this initiative in collaboration with
@EXCEL4MED @MaltaFoodAgency @MaltaEnterprise @TheMaltaChamber @UniversityofMalta @SmartAgroHub