Limassol Halts Blue Flag Applications Amid Strategic Water Quality Review

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

April 24, 2026

Policy Shift In Limassol

Authorities in Limassol have suspended submissions for Blue Flag awards across the coastal area, in coordination with CYMEPA. The decision, reported by Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reflects a policy shift in coastal management rather than a decline in seawater quality.

Clarifying Water Quality Standards

Officials said the suspension is not linked to water quality deterioration. Theodoulos Mesimeris, Director at the Shipping Deputy Ministry, stated that seawater quality remains within established standards, addressing public concerns raised in recent months.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Enhanced Monitoring And Preventative Measures

Authorities plan to expand monitoring systems in partnership with CYMEPA. Measures include more frequent water sampling, deployment of marine environmental sensors and faster response protocols for pollution incidents. The framework covers both coastal waters and land-based sources of pollution, aiming to strengthen early detection and intervention.

Stakeholder Engagement And Future Outlook

Officials also outlined new public engagement measures, including a platform to publish water quality data and a dedicated communication channel for reporting environmental concerns. The temporary suspension of Blue Flag submissions is intended to allow time to address structural monitoring gaps.

The action plan, developed with the Department of Fisheries, the Ports Authority and other government bodies, is expected to be fully implemented by July 2026. The initiative focuses on improving monitoring capacity and transparency across Limassol’s coastal zone.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

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.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

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.

Breaking news