Stakeholder engagement and consumer insight lie at the heart of EXCEL4MED’s mission to strengthen Mediterranean fruit supply chains.
In Malta, these principles have taken tangible form through a pioneering initiative led by our partner Koperattivi Malta: the launch of the country’s first-ever food cooperative, “The Food Coop”.
Opened in October 2025, The Food Coop is not an isolated initiative. It is the direct outcome of research findings, stakeholder dialogues and consumer-focused discussions carried out within EXCEL4MED.
These activities highlighted a clear gap in consumer access to fresh, sustainable, and fairly priced Mediterranean produce (particularly citrus) while also revealing the need for approaches that place consumers more firmly at the centre of the supply chain.
A community-based response to shared challenges
Responding to these insights, Koperattivi Malta established The Food Coop as a practical, community-driven solution. By shortening distribution routes and strengthening connections between producers and consumers, the cooperative demonstrates how sustainability can be embedded into everyday food access.
More than a retail outlet, The Food Coop acts as a living example of how improved supply-chain organisation can support local producers, ensure fairer pricing and enhance consumer trust.
In doing so, it translates EXCEL4MED’s recommendations into a concrete model with real impact on the ground.
Collaboration as a driving force
EXCEL4MED fosters a strong culture of collaboration, and The Food Coop stands as a clear testament to this approach.
Its establishment was made possible through the valued contribution of our partner Malta Food Agency, whose role as an enabler within the project helped create the right conditions for the initiative to emerge and grow.
Thus, the Agency has played a key role in transforming EXCEL4MED research outcomes into long-term structures, strengthening local food systems and supporting actions that enhance sustainability and community access to fresh produce.
A replicable model for sustainable food systems
As the first initiative of its kind in Malta, The Food Coop demonstrates the potential of cooperative models to reshape local food systems.
Its early success offers a practical and adaptable blueprint for other regions seeking to strengthen sustainability, improve producer-consumer relationships, and increase access to high-quality Mediterranean produce.
Through initiatives like this food cooperative, EXCEL4MED continues to show how research, collaboration and stakeholder engagement can extend beyond project activities, leaving behind durable solutions that support resilient and sustainable food supply chains across the Mediterranean.
