With great enthusiasm, strong participation, and inspiring, insightful speeches, the Agrifood Leadership 2025–2026 programme concluded during a special event held on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Lidl House Athens, in the Arsakeio Arcade.
The event had a celebratory character, marking three years since the launch of the programme, and brought together representatives of the agrifood sector, trainers, supporters, alumni, partners, and members of the wider Agrifood Leadership community.
The Agrifood Leadership 2025–2026 programme is implemented by New Agriculture New Generation under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food. The programme’s Technical and Strategic Advisor is Rutgers University (USA). The programme was established through the founding grant of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
An Event Dedicated to the Programme’s Journey and Impact
The event provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the journey, evolution, and impact of Agrifood Leadership, highlighting the importance of leadership, collaboration, lifelong learning, and the development of strong professional communities for the future of Greece’s agrifood ecosystem.
The event was opened by Michalis Karagiannis, Project Manager of the programme, who welcomed attendees and introduced the framework of the anniversary gathering, dedicated both to reviewing the programme’s third cycle and to its dynamic future.
Next, Effie Lazaridou, CEO of New Agriculture New Generation, spoke about the contribution of Agrifood Leadership to empowering professionals in the primary and agrifood sectors, emphasizing the role of education, mentoring, and networking in shaping a new generation of professionals equipped with vision, knowledge, and leadership skills.
A welcome address was delivered by Argyro Zerva, Secretary General for Union Resources and Infrastructure at the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food, who highlighted the importance of education and collaboration among young people active in the agrifood sector, as well as the value of programmes that provide up-to-date knowledge, specialized expertise, and practical tools for their professional development.
This was followed by remarks from Nikos Lysigakis, Senior Consultant Corporate Affairs at Lidl Hellas, who spoke about the importance of supporting initiatives that promote knowledge, innovation, and sustainable development in the agrifood sector, emphasizing the value of collaboration among organizations, businesses, and individuals who share a common vision for the future of Greek agrifood.
Speeches, Videos and International Leadership Perspectives
The keynote speaker of the event was Eleni Kehri, winemaker, oenologist, and chemical engineer, who shared her personal and professional journey, highlighting key aspects of leadership, entrepreneurship, resilience, and continuous growth within the agrifood sector.
As part of the event, attendees watched a video message from Robert Goodman, University Professor and Executive Dean Emeritus at Rutgers University, as well as a commemorative video entitled “Three Years of Agrifood Leadership,” showcasing significant milestones, experiences, people, and achievements from the programme’s journey to date.
Michalis Karagiannis then presented the importance of the programme’s Alumni community and announced new initiatives aimed at maintaining, strengthening, and further activating the connections among graduates. The Alumni community serves as a vibrant network for exchanging knowledge, experiences, and collaborations, creating added value for the agrifood sector.
A fireside chat followed between Erick Doyle, farmer and business owner of Readington River Farm and alumnus of the New Jersey Leadership Development Program Class 7, and Dimitris Voloudakis, General Programs Director of New Agriculture New Generation and Scientific Director of the programme, on the topic “A Paradigm of Leadership.” The discussion highlighted international best practices, personal experiences, and the importance of leadership as a driving force behind the development of dynamic communities and sustainable partnerships in the agrifood sector.
Reflecting on the Third Cycle and Looking Ahead
A particularly meaningful moment of the event was the greetings delivered by Agrifood Leadership trainers and supporters, who highlighted the importance of continuity, collaboration, and the active participation of all stakeholders in the programme’s success and continued growth.
The event concluded with a review of the third cycle of Agrifood Leadership, followed by the presentation of certificates of participation to the programme participants.
Following the official programme, a networking session gave participants the opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences, and perspectives on the future of the agrifood sector, while further strengthening the relationships built throughout their participation in the programme.
Agrifood Leadership continues to invest in the people of the agrifood sector by fostering a strong community of professionals who share a common vision for a more modern, sustainable, outward-looking, and competitive agrifood ecosystem.
The fourth cycle of the programme will run from November 2026 to June 2027. For the first time, the programme will also be held under the auspices of EIT Food.
Applications for the new cycle are available through the programme’s website.
New Agriculture New Generation extends its sincere thanks to Lidl Hellas for its valuable support and generous hospitality at the new Lidl House Athens venue.
Supporters of the programme’s additional educational activities include the Consortium of Producer Cooperatives of Imathia, PINDOS Agricultural Poultry Cooperative of Ioannina, the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association, COMPO EXPERT, the Kalavryta Agricultural Dairy Cooperative, and Lidl Hellas.
The programme is also supported by NBIS.
