SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER

It has been said that progress does not happen by accident. The complex that we are inaugurating today is a perfect illustration of the veracity of this statement. It is immediately apparent that a considerable investment, in terms of both financial and human resources, has gone into the successful completion of this project.

The establishment of such a centre of excellence is a landmark in the development of agriculture in Malta. Every endeavour has been made over the past few years to ensure that this Centre will be in a position to provide a quality service as a vital element in the mesh that intertwines our agriculture and our environment.

Ever since Gregory Mendel first studied the laws of heredity in 1865, science has established itself firmly as one of the main pillars of agriculture. Traditional practices, such as cross pollination and crop rotation in fields, based on the knowledge passed on from generation to generation have been supplemented by laboratory research and experimentation. The relatively new science of Plant Biotechnology has opened yet another era in agriculture.

One might query the practical relevance of such an advanced and specialised science in agriculture's commitment to feeding the world. In the nineteenth century, when Michael Faraday was asked to explain the use of the discovery called electricity he replied "What?s the use of a new born baby?". Even in more recent times, the great potential of the Internet was not perceived until the concept gathered a certain momentum, fast becoming such an integral part of today?s world.

The same holds true for the importance of Plant Biotechnology, which is still in the early stages of its development. However, there is every indication that its importance and contribution to agricultural science will progressively increase over time.

The introduction of the Single Market in the European Union has brought about completely liberalised trade in the Community and furthermore, with the drive towards globalisation in accordance with existing World Trade Agreements, trade barriers will continue to disappear. The technological developments in agriculture, as well as the effects of economic globalisation demand that we constantly strive to keep abreast of change.

Agriculture production is becoming more international, with trade increasing in both raw materials and processed food and plant material. The risk of cross border transmission of disease has thus increased. In the context of these developments, Malta needs a modern Plant Protection Service to prevent the importation of a potential hazard to our crop production and natural landscapes in the form of a plant disease. The establishment of this Centre contributes towards the capacity building required to achieve this goal.

We just have to remember the tragic consequences of plant epidemics in other countries to realise the dire need of having stringent and scientific controls in the plant quarantine area. It is sufficient here to recall the Irish Famine of 1846 which killed one million people and drove yet another million into emigration. The culprit was a plant disease, the late potato blight, which destroyed successive harvests on which the local population depended for their very existence. The Bengal Famine of 1943, that saw so many Indians die of hunger, was similarly brought about by a fungal plant disease.

In the past years we have invested considerably in broadening and extending agricultural education. In agriculture, as in all other sectors, the importance of qualifications and academic excellence can never be overstated. We can now boast a small but growing pool of qualified young people in this field. This Centre will provide them with both an outlet for the utilisation of the fruits of their studies, as well as with the possibility of acquiring technical knowledge and indulging in further research in a modern scientific environment.

The future is beckoning and I believe that today?s inauguration points the way to that future. I salute the efforts and successes already achieved by the early projects in micro-propagation, resulting in the re-population of endemic shrubs and our national tree for the protection and conservation of our natural environments and landscapes. The propagation of virus-free root stocks and fruit trees was also another successful venture of this Centre in these past few months.

I cannot but highlight a critical factor in the successful completion of this project. This was the technical and financial support which we received from the Italian Government. Now that the Centre has been completed, I am confident that this collaboration between Italy and Malta will be further strengthened and we can look forward towards challenges that can bring forth new opportunities in an ever-changing environment.

It is with great pleasure that I now officially inaugurate this complex with the planting of an olive-tree. I underscore the appropriateness of this symbolic act. The olive tree is a permanent feature of the landscapes of the countries in the Mediterranean basin but has also for time immemorial been a symbol of peace, prosperity and longevity.