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Agriculture Minister Announces New Decree On PDO Halloumi Milk Quota

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 9, 2024

In a significant policy shift, Cyprus’ Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou announced a new decree adjusting the milk quotas to produce Halloumi with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. This decree, effective from February 2025, aims to bolster the authenticity and market strength of Cyprus’ primary export product by increasing the goat and sheep milk content from 25% to 30% in the Halloumi mixture.

Addressing Seasonal Variability and Production Standards

The decree marks a pivotal change in the agricultural landscape, reducing seasonality from six to five months and setting an annual average quota of 23% for goat and sheep milk, up from the previous 18%. This adjustment benefits both seasonal and year-round goat and sheep farmers, providing a more stable production environment and aligning with European Union environmental commitments by limiting cow milk usage in Halloumi production.

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Technological Integration for Enhanced Monitoring

The introduction of advanced software for tracking goat and sheep milk, slated for October 2024, signifies a forward-looking approach. This system will gather critical data to inform future quota decisions, ensuring that the decree is data-driven and responsive to production realities.

Financial Incentives and Infrastructure Development

The government has introduced financial measures to support the agricultural sector in tandem with the quota adjustments. These include targeted incentives for increasing goat and sheep milk production, infrastructure improvements, genetic enhancement, and the expansion of production units. Such initiatives are expected to modernise the industry, making it more resilient and competitive.

Strategic Goals and Long-Term Vision

Minister Panayiotou emphasized the decree’s alignment with the broader goals of sustaining PDO Halloumi’s status and ensuring its market strength. The five-year transitional period granted by the European Commission, ending in 2029, allows Cyprus to gradually meet the EU Regulation 2021/591 requirements, which mandate a minimum of 51% goat and sheep milk in Halloumi production.

By actively engaging with stakeholders and implementing these comprehensive measures, Cyprus is set to reinforce its position in the global Halloumi market. This decree is a strategic move towards balancing traditional practices with modern demands, ensuring the long-term viability of an iconic Cypriot product.

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Alphabet Exceeds Q1 Forecasts, Bolstering Investor Confidence

by News Editor

April 25, 2025

Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, surprised investors with a robust performance in the first quarter of 2025, propelling a 5% increase in share value during after-hours trading. As reported in their latest earnings report, the company achieved $90.23 billion in revenue, outpacing analyst predictions of $89.12 billion.

Key metrics that drew attention include their earnings per share, which hit $2.81 compared to the projected $2.01. Despite missing the mark on YouTube ad revenue and Google Cloud, Alphabet’s overall growth seemed unstoppable, showing a 12% year-over-year increase.

The strategic focus remains on navigating competitive pressures from AI technologies, assisted by tools like AI Overviews, now engaging 1.5 billion users monthly. Philipp Schindler, Google’s business chief, acknowledged upcoming challenges, such as the impacts of tariff changes.

Meanwhile, Alphabet’s acquisition strategy continues to stir interest, with the $32 billion purchase of cloud security startup Wiz expected to further strengthen their cloud security services. The competitive push in AI and cloud domains signals a robust trajectory for Alphabet, promising exciting developments ahead for investors and tech enthusiasts alike.