Cypriot farmers urge government to expand grain storage facilities

On October 12, 2026, five major Cypriot farmers' organizations—PEK, EKA, Panagrotikos, Nea Agrotiki Kinisi, and Evroagrotikos—sent a joint letter to Minister of Agriculture Christos Senekis and Minister of Energy Michalis Damianou. The groups are calling for the creation of additional grain storage infrastructure and are specifically requesting an extension for the grain storage license at the port of Larnaca, which is set to expire on October 31, 2026.

The organizations argue that ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, have significantly disrupted supply chains, raised transport costs, and inflated the price of imported animal feed. With Ukrainian supplies restricted and demand remaining stable, the unions warn of potential food shortages and price hikes in the local market.

Furthermore, the groups expressed concern regarding the upcoming implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on January 1, 2027, which they expect will increase the costs of soybean meal imports from Argentina and Brazil. They are urging the state to reassess national storage needs and support the extension of current port facilities to maintain food security.