Proposal for major restructuring of the Cypriot livestock sector

A special scientific committee led by Stavros Malas presented a twelve-year action plan (2027–2038) at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia this week to modernize Cyprus's livestock sector. The initiative follows the recent foot-and-mouth disease crisis, which highlighted systemic vulnerabilities including uncontrolled spatial planning, lack of biosecurity, and dependency on illegal animal movements across the ceasefire line. The outbreak affected 121 farms, leading to the culling of 84,133 animals and over €17.28 million in government compensation.

The proposed €610.9 million strategy aims to transition the industry from ad-hoc operations to a professional, resilient model. Key measures include structural relocation of high-density farms, genetic improvement, and the implementation of electronic monitoring for all units. Malas warned that the status quo threatens the long-term viability of the PDO halloumi production, urging an end to past patterns of improvisation. Government officials and stakeholders have begun formal consultations to finalize the plan for implementation.

The government intends to significantly increase average annual funding from €7.6 million to nearly €51 million to support these structural changes. While agricultural organizations acknowledge the necessity of these reforms, they emphasize the need for political consistency to ensure investments are protected over the next decade.