HOW A PLACE-BASED DIGITAL HUB IN MALTA CONNECTED GEOAI, COLLABORATIVE MAPPING, RURAL E-COMMERCE AND STAKEHOLDER LEARNING, AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FUTURE REPLICATION ACROSS EUROPE

After nine months of implementation, MALTESE concludes with a practical model for Malta that connects accessible digital tools, local agricultural data, skills development, entrepreneurship and stakeholder cooperation.

Implemented as a cascade project linked to the PoliRuralPlus Malta pilot, MALTESE brought together PAMEA as coordinator, SEMABLU as technical lead and SELFHOOD as capacity-building partner, with close collaboration from AcrossLimits, the PoliRuralPlus partner for Malta. The project addressed a clear challenge: useful digital solutions exist, yet many farmers, rural entrepreneurs and young people still face barriers in accessing, understanding and applying them.

MALTESE responded by combining technology with hands-on learning and local engagement. At the centre of the project is the MALTESE Agro-Innovation Digital Hub, which brings together the JackDaw GeoAI Chatbot, Map Whiteboard and the Rural-Urban E-Market in a single rural innovation approach.

Making digital tools practical for Malta

The JackDaw component was adapted to make access easier for non-technical users. A dedicated MALTESE web interface allows users to select an area on a map and ask location-based questions without dealing with the technical connection steps behind the service. Local Maltese data on soil types, soil moisture, protected areas and funding opportunities was integrated to make the information more relevant to rural users.

Map Whiteboard added a visual space for collaborative mapping and rural planning, while the Rural-Urban E-Market was localised for Malta to support more direct links between producers and potential customers. The prototype was further refined through MALTESE participation in the PoliRuralPlus JackDaw Code Camp in Athens, where PAMEA and SEMABLU worked with technical partners on data integration, GeoAI applications and usability.

Building skills and business ideas alongside technology

From 5 to 8 May 2026, MALTESE organised a four-day training programme at the National Viticulture & Oenology Centre in Malta. Participants worked directly with the project tools while exploring SMART irrigation, circular economy practices, collaborative planning, market access and business model development.

Training was followed by mentoring and business development activities that resulted in three selected business ideas: GrowBox, Just AgriConsultations Malta and MD Smart Eco-Pond Farm Model. These concepts reflected the participants’ engagement with rural innovation, circular economy thinking and practical solutions for Malta’s agricultural and entrepreneurial context. During the Final Dissemination Event, GrowBox and MD Smart Eco-Pond Farm Model were presented to the audience, while the third selected concept was not presented at the event.

This progression from training to concrete business concepts was an important result. MALTESE did not treat digitalisation as a software demonstration. Participants were encouraged to connect technology with farming practices, market needs and viable ideas that could respond to the Maltese context.

A final discussion focused on what Malta needs next

The MALTESE Final Dissemination Event, held on 25 June 2026 at the Malta Digital Innovation Authority in Birkirkara, brought together the project’s technical results, training experience and entrepreneurship activities. The programme included the MALTESE prototype, capacity-building outcomes, circular agri-business lessons, participant business ideas and a stakeholder round table on what the project leaves behind for rural Malta.

The discussion also exposed barriers that technology alone cannot solve. Participants referred to low interest among some farmers in adopting new approaches, linked to limited incentives, gaps in skills and knowledge, and uncertainty about the practical benefits of digital solutions. Another recurring point was the need to introduce knowledge about agriculture, sustainability, entrepreneurship and digital technologies much earlier, including through education from a young age.

What MALTESE leaves behind

MALTESE leaves Malta with more than a prototype. It has established a localised digital hub, practical experience in using GeoAI and geospatial data for rural needs, tested training and mentoring methods, three emerging business concepts and stronger links between technology, entrepreneurship and rural development.

The project also leaves a clear conclusion: rural digital innovation works when technology is accessible, connected to reliable local information and supported by people who have the skills and confidence to use it. Long-term progress will depend on continued maintenance, education, incentives, institutional support and cooperation with farmers and rural communities.

MALTESE therefore closes with a pathway rather than an endpoint. The tools and experience developed through the project provide a basis that Malta can continue to build on, while offering lessons that can also be adapted by other small-island and rural regions.

More information

MALTESE project website  |  Training in Malta  |  Athens JackDaw Code Camp

Funding acknowledgement

The project PoliRuralPlus has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101136910.

Disclaimer

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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