Empty shelves have been spotted at a major Maltese supermarket as ongoing industrial action by truck drivers in Sicily begins to affect food supplies reaching the island.The disruption follows protests by Sicilian hauliers over increasing fuel and transport costs, with drivers refusing to carry goods or unload trailers arriving by sea.The action, which reportedly began on 16th October, has already caused shortages in parts of Sicily, particularly affecting fresh produce, meat and other perishable products.Now, the impact is being felt in Malta, where several food retailers depend on regular shipments from the neighbouring island.Maltese MEP Peter Agius took to social media to share photographs showing empty supermarket shelves, warning that the situation exposes just how reliant Malta has become on imported food.“Will the ministers find anything to eat today?These shelves at a major supermarket are empty!All because of a truck drivers’ strike in Sicily.Look how vulnerable we’ve become when it comes to food security.Look how important it is to have a productive agricultural and livestock sector, supported by the authorities, instead of turning our backs on those who feed us and on Maltese produce.” he wrote.Agius argued that the disruption should serve as a wake-up call about Malta’s food security, calling for greater investment in local farming and livestock production.He stressed that Maltese farmers and livestock breeders need stronger support from the authorities, rather than being left struggling while the country grows increasingly dependent on overseas suppliers.The strike comes at a time when rising fuel prices continue to put pressure on transport operators across Europe.Malta, meanwhile, has maintained relatively stable fuel prices through government subsidies, with petrol priced at €1.34 per litre and diesel at €1.21.However, the situation in Sicily demonstrates that Malta can still experience the consequences of rising transport costs abroad, even when domestic fuel prices remain unchanged.With no immediate certainty over when normal deliveries will resume, further disruption could affect the availability of imported food products in Maltese supermarkets.Do you think Malta should be investing more in local agriculture to reduce its dependence on imported food?Credit: Peter Agius•