In April this year, the Ambassador for Organic and Sustainable Food hosted a session on organic food at the at 2024 edition of the national AGRIFAIR, held at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali. This informal discussion was held in collaboration with the Malta Food Agency, and in parallel with a live cooking of delicious recipes using organic cauliflower as a principal ingredient.

The discussion revolved around sustainable and organic foods, with the additional aim of showing how local, organic, simple ingredients, could be used to create delicious meals. Specifically, the event highlighted the versatile properties and nutritional benefits of the humble cauliflower, despite its unassuming reputation.

While food was being prepared, Ambassador Sammut and Chef Kurt Mifsud discussed food choices and the benefits of a mindful approach to eating. They began by exploring the fundamental reasons for eating and elaborated on the role which food plays in pleasure, celebration, and cultural practices. Going beyond the reasons for eating, they also emphasized the importance of healthy, balanced diets, the advantages of consuming fresh, unprocessed foods, including through plant-based diets or meals.

In our fast-paced lifestyle, it is also important to understand and emphasize the value of home-cooked meals. Preparing food at home ensures knowledge of ingredients, simplicity, and fosters family bonding. It also helps instil good eating habits in children. Additionally, choosing locally sourced foods builds trust with producers, supports local communities and also helps maintain local ecosystems. It is environmentally friendly due to lower transportation miles and promotes local varieties of produce. Finally, the presentation underscored the peace of mind that comes with consuming organic foods. Organic produce is grown without harmful pesticides and is certified through rigorous control systems. Choosing organic supports soil health, environmental sustainability, and creates demand for cleaner agricultural practices.