Cyprus represented at EU Council meeting

The challenges faced by agriculture due to climate change was the main issue discussed at a meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers, at which Cyprus was represented by the Director of the Agricultural Department, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Christodoulos Photiou.

Cypriot agriculture, he said, has to deal with adverse weather conditions which are directly linked to global climate changes, such as drought and high temperatures, and in this context, it agreed with European Commission proposals to conduct wide-ranging research on climate and agriculture.

Research, Cyprus pointed out at the Council meeting, should cover other fields as well, such as the ability to cause rain, water production technology through desalination, the use of new varieties of plants which will be able to withstand even the lack of water and high temperatures, as well as the development and implementation of new agricultural practices for further water saving.

In addition, the European Commission asked for initiatives and specific action to deal with the impact of climate change, particularly drought and water shortage. The Commission did not exclude the creation of a legal basis for the establishment and operation of a specialised financial instrument or fund to finance related activities.