The need to radically change the operating model of the Cypriot livestock industry, drawing on the lessons learned from the foot-and-mouth disease crisis, was highlighted from the studio of the Alpha Kalimera program by Stavros Malas.
“The first priority is to get those farms that want to resume operations back up and running. And second, to rebuild our livestock sector and redesign it on a sound foundation, so that, on the one hand, it is more productive and contributes more to the economy, and on the other hand, it is also more biosecure.”
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He explains that we could have suffered far fewer losses from foot-and-mouth disease if we hadn’t had this overconcentration of farms.
“Because that’s what some people decided many years ago—that livestock farming is basically a zoo, and you put the farms right next to one another. This approach was fundamentally disastrous. Not just wrong. Disastrous.”
He criticizes the fact that Cypriot livestock farming has focused almost exclusively on milk production, leaving the potential for meat production and marketing largely untapped.As he explains, livestock can contribute to both milk and meat production, and he advocates for the development of a dual livestock farming model, as is practiced in other countries. The goal is to strengthen milk production in terms of biosecurity and protection, while simultaneously developing the infrastructure and marketing of meat to reduce dependence on imports.
As he noted, foreign markets are expected to demand increasingly higher standards regarding milk quality, animal welfare, and other aspects of the production process. He even warned that if Cyprus does not adapt in time, it will face serious difficulties with its exports.
The second challenge concerns halloumi as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product. Mr. Malas pointed out that the product’s designation was not accompanied by timely planning and implementation of all necessary changes. As he noted, 2029 is a critical milestone for the implementation of the PDO dossier’s specifications, stressing that there is no room for a further extension.
“Either we’ll reach an agreement, or we’ll lose the PDO,” he stated, referring to the need for consensus on the product’s future.
Referring to the disagreements among dairy farmers, sheep and goat farmers, and cheese makers, Stavros Malas argued that the debate over halloumi has focused excessively on milk quotas, while the real problem is broader. In his view, the key issue is the market value of goat and sheep milk and whether the price at which halloumi is sold abroad allows for fair compensation for the raw material. As he explained, if the product is not sold at an appropriate price on international markets, milk producers cannot secure the income they need to keep their operations viable.
At the same time, he acknowledged that dairy farmers have certain production advantages, including the genetic quality of their animals and the potential to increase productivity. In contrast, as he noted, sheep and goat farming has not yet received adequate scientific guidance, and problems have also arisen from crossbreeding.
He warned that the conflict between the two sectors benefits no one. If no agreement is reached and halloumi exports decline, the consequences will affect not only the goat and sheep farming sectors but also the dairy farming sector and the dairy industry as a whole.
The restructuring plan places particular emphasis on goat and sheep farming. According to Stavros Malas, of the total budget of approximately €600 million, about €380 million is expected to be allocated to this sector.
As he noted, the goal is not to create more livestock farms, but to develop more productive and professionally organized operations.
He clarified, however, that smaller operations must also be maintained—even those with 50 or 100 animals—as they have their own place in the local economy and contribute to the production of traditional products. As he explained, these farms are not necessarily export-oriented, but are part of Cyprus’s livestock farming tradition.
The plan, which has a twelve-year timeframe, covers the period 2027–2038. Its implementation, however, depends on securing the necessary financial resources.
Mr. Malas noted that a study has already been submitted to the President of the Republic and the Minister of Finance, following a request from Mr. Keravnos. According to the study, for every euro invested, the country could see an immediate return of two euros, based on conservative estimates. Another key element of the proposal is the creation of a mechanism to provide scientific support to livestock farmers, in collaboration with universities and research institutions.
As Mr. Malas revealed, he has proposed to the government the creation of a consortium involving the Cyprus Institute, the Agricultural Research Institute, the University of Nicosia, and the Cyprus University of Technology, along with other collaborating organizations. The consortium could undertake the detailed planning of the programs, provide scientific guidance, and evaluate their implementation, in collaboration with the relevant government agencies. Examples cited included models implemented in other European countries, where research institutions work directly with livestock farmers and help them apply new scientific methods to production.
Mr. Malas highlighted as a key lesson from the foot-and-mouth disease crisis the fact that Cyprus operated more reactively than through long-term planning. The new approach, as he described it, must combine better siting of facilities, biosecurity, productivity, scientific support, and the full utilization of potential in both dairy and meat production.
