The island state of Malta is the smallest in the Mediterranean. The Maltese economy, which is largely based on light manufacturing and service industries, has been one of the fastest growing in the world. Nevertheless, as in other island states, the country has to confront specific problems, a principal one being related to environmental protection. Sustained industrial development and increased pressures on the limited land and water resources risk to further marginalise the position of the agriculture and fisheries sector within the general economic framework. This sector will also be affected, to a considerable degree, with EC entry and hence appropriate measures have to be identified to cushion any negative effects that such a political decision will give rise to.

The subject of Maltese food, agriculture, fisheries and the environment has limited coverage not only on an international level but also within the Maltese scene. Malta : Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment has been launched to partly fill this vacuum and help stimulate further research on related topics in Maltese teaching institutions and Government departments engaged in the above areas of interest.