Cyprus Granted Five-Year Extension To Comply With PDO Halloumi Specifications

The European Commission has granted Cyprus a five-year extension to comply with the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) requirements for Halloumi cheese. This follows the expiration of the initial ten-year transition period requested by the Republic of Cyprus on 9 July. The decision, confirmed by the Minister of Agriculture Maria Panayiotou, aims to secure Halloumi’s status as a premier export product while ensuring sustainability across the sector.

Ensuring Compliance and Sustainability

The extension provides Cyprus with the necessary time to fully align its production processes with PDO standards. The Ministry of Agriculture is set to issue a decree on milk quotas, addressing the balance between sheep-goat and cow’s milk in Halloumi production. This decree, to be finalised after stakeholder consultations, aims to enhance compliance while supporting producers.

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Economic and Cultural Impact

Halloumi is a significant agri-food export for Cyprus, representing both an economic asset and a cultural heritage. The PDO status not only ensures product authenticity but also strengthens market positioning globally. Maintaining this status is crucial for Cyprus to protect its market share and promote its national brand.

Strategic Objectives

The Cypriot government’s primary objectives during the transition are the protection and promotion of PDO Halloumi. By implementing measures that support both compliance and industry sustainability, Cyprus aims to solidify Halloumi’s reputation as a high-quality product. The Ministry’s forthcoming decree and ongoing consultations are steps towards achieving these goals.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 24, 2026

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

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Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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