A significant portion of Cyprus' milk production remains vulnerable to future disease outbreaks, Stavros Malas warned on Friday as he presented a 12-year plan for the recovery and restructuring of the livestock sector following the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.
Addressing stakeholders at the Presidential Palace, Malas said difficult decisions could no longer be avoided, arguing that the sector could not simply return to pre-crisis conditions.
"We cannot look back to the previous situation," he said, describing the development of Cypriot livestock farming as largely unplanned and calling for a comprehensive overhaul focused on resilience, productivity and biosecurity.
Concentration of farms poses systemic risk
Malas highlighted the high concentration of dairy production, warning that another major animal disease outbreak could jeopardise a significant share of Cyprus' milk supply.
According to the findings presented:
- 72 dairy cattle units produced 60% of Cyprus' cow's milk in 2025.
- One of those units has already been lost as a result of foot-and-mouth disease.
- 27 sheep and goat farms produced 20% of total milk output in 2025.
- Four of those units have already been lost during the outbreak.
The report argues that the density of livestock operations increases the risk of rapid disease transmission and exposes the sector to systemic shocks.
As a result, the scientific committee recommends:
- Decongestion of livestock zones.
- Stronger biosecurity measures.
- Spatial reorganisation of animal farming operations.
A new model for livestock farming
Beyond geographical restructuring, the report proposes a fundamental shift away from the sector's previous model.
The committee argues that livestock farming should move away from:
- Excessive dependence on dairy production.
- Low productivity levels.
- Weak biosecurity systems.
- Gaps in traceability.
- Fragmented policy interventions.
Instead, it proposes a model centred on:
- More productive livestock.
- Increased meat production.
- Comprehensive traceability.
- Veterinary monitoring.
- Genetic improvement programmes.
- Animal welfare standards.
- Scientific support and innovation.
€610.9m programme built on four pillars
The proposed recovery strategy carries a total estimated cost of €610.925 million over 12 years.
The investment would be divided into four main pillars:
Sheep and goat farming
€372.225 million
Funding would support the reconstruction and upgrading of the sheep and goat sector, which is considered critical for sustaining PDO Halloumi production and exports.
Dairy cattle farming
€134 million
Resources would be directed towards improving productivity, biosecurity and long-term sustainability within the dairy sector.
Horizontal measures
€41 million
The proposed expenditure includes:
- €10 million for 10 calf-fattening units.
- €10 million for lamb and kid-fattening facilities.
- €4 million for fencing and electronic biosecurity systems.
- €7 million for animal welfare improvements and live monitoring.
- €10 million for targeted decongestion of livestock areas.
Scientific support
€63.7 million
The plan also includes substantial investment in research and innovation, including:
- Genetic evaluation and breeding programmes.
- Accredited milk research laboratories.
- Meat research laboratories.
- Smart livestock farming teams for cattle and small ruminants.
- Sustainable livestock development programmes.
- A sperm and embryo bank for sheep and goats.
- Animal welfare monitoring systems.
- Digital livestock records and scientific advisory support.
Government begins consultation process
Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis said the presentation marked the beginning, not the conclusion, of the decision-making process.
He stressed that the government would examine the scientific recommendations in consultation with stakeholders across the sector.
"The scientific documentation gains greater value when accompanied by meaningful dialogue with the people who understand the realities of the sector firsthand," he said.
Senekis said the government would use the report as a foundation for future policy decisions while continuing discussions aimed at developing practical and sustainable solutions for the livestock industry.
