Moldova will launch a €4 million project to support farmers and ensure compliance with EU agricultural legislation
Specifically, this involves an agreement between Moldova’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM Bari), which was signed in Rome by Minister of Agriculture Ludmila Catlabuga and CIHEAM Bari Director Biagio Di Terlizzi. The project “Support to the Government of Moldova in the Process of Aligning Legislation with EU Legislation in the Field of Agriculture and Rural Development” is valued at 4 million euros and will be implemented over a period of three years. The project’s main activities will target small and medium-sized farmers, cooperatives, and producer associations, with a focus on improving the production, processing, and marketing of agri-food products in accordance with European requirements and international quality and safety standards. CIHEAM Bari is an institution with expertise in postgraduate education, applied research, and international cooperation in the fields of sustainable agriculture, rural development, food security, and climate change adaptation. In Rome, Ludmila Catlabuga also held a meeting with Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry. The parties discussed expanding Moldovan-Italian cooperation in agriculture, with a particular focus on projects, the exchange of expertise, and support for the adaptation of the national agri-food sector to European Union standards. Earlier, during a meeting in Chisinau, Ludmila Catlabuga and the Director of CIHEAM Bari, Biagio Di Terlizzi, agreed to launch a cooperation project in Moldova aimed at adapting the national agricultural sector to EU requirements. The project will help strengthen Moldova’s capacity to develop the agri-food sector and diversify agricultural markets. A key objective is to encourage the formation of producer groups in accordance with EU rules and practices, so that small and medium-sized farms can establish functional and competitive forms of cooperation. The Minister of Agriculture noted that Italy’s experience in the field of agricultural cooperatives is valuable for Moldova, especially in the context of the European path of development and the need to modernize the agri-food sector. “Associations, applied knowledge, and access to functional organizational models can help farmers strengthen their market positions and better utilize the potential of local production,” noted Ludmila Catlabuga. Knowledge transfer to farmers will play a key role in this initiative. Through training, consulting, and the exchange of experience, producers will gain access to practical information on organizing cooperatives, improving production efficiency, processing agri-food products, and complying with food quality and safety standards. Representatives from the Italian side expressed their willingness to share Italy’s experience in implementing European agricultural policy, developing cooperatives, modernizing the agri-food sector, and promoting food quality and safety standards. // 21.05.2026 — InfoMarket
