In the Republic of Cyprus, the FAO Director-General visits a dairy manufacturer, a UNESCO-listed geopark and an aquaculture farm

Larnaca, Republic of Cyprus - As part of an official visit to the Republic of Cyprus, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu visited a dairy products manufacturer, a geopark included in the UNESCO network and a fish farm.

At the dairy products manufacturer, the Director-General saw first-hand the production of Halloumi cheese, which was acclaimed as one of the European Union Protected Designation of Origin cheeses in 2021. He described Halloumi as a distinctive cheese and an important part of the heritage and livelihoods of the producers.

Subsequently, the Director-General together with the FAO delegation visited the Troodos Geopark, located in a mountain range in the centre of the country and covering an area of some 137,000 hectares. The site, which was officially included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Geoparks Network in 2015, encompasses 110 settlements with a total population of approximately 25,000 inhabitants. It is notable for its distinctive and complex geology and natural environment as well as its long history of human societies and the customs and traditions of the local population.

The final visit was to a family-founded aquaculture farm which produces the sea bass and sea bream fish species at its location off the coast of Limassol. The company produces and distributes sustainably farmed fish, aiming for a high standard of freshness, taste and quality. The Director-General noted that aquaculture is an important alternative to fishing in order to protect wild fish stocks.