Author: george

New Agriculture New Generation announces the launch of the new training and consulting program “Leveraging the Advantage: Strategies for Local Products and PDO–PGI with Health Claims”, which aims to enhance the competitiveness of Greek products with high nutritional value by utilizing Health Claims as a tool for differentiation, extroversion, and sustainable development.

The program is implemented by New Agriculture New Generation, through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and with the support of CrediaBank.

It is addressed to agrifood businesses, cooperatives, and producer groups that wish to strengthen their position in the market by combining expertise on the regulatory framework and certification procedures with targeted marketing, sales and export strategies.

The main objective of the program is to train and support agrifood enterprises so that they understand the regulatory framework and effectively leverage Health Claims in their strategies, increasing their competitiveness both in the domestic and international markets. At the same time, the program contributes to the adoption of best practices for the management of natural resources, promoting sustainable development.

The total duration of the program is 4 months and it will benefit 15 enterprises, cooperatives, or producer groups, with the possibility of participation for up to 3 staff members per enterprise (a total of 45 participants).

Applications will remain open from November 19 to December 7, 2025.

Program Structure

The program includes:

Training Workshops (15 hours, online) with thematic units on:
-the regulatory framework and certification procedures,
-best practices for water resource management,
-marketing, branding, and sales strategy,
-exporting products with Health Claims.

Personalized Consulting: The 15 enterprises and their teams will receive tailored business support from experienced market professionals (4 hours per enterprise), as well as one hour of specialized consulting on best practices in water resource management.

Networking Events (one opening and one closing event) for knowledge exchange, sharing experiences, and fostering collaborations.

Collective Publication (White Paper) featuring the program’s results and best practices.

The training workshops will be delivered in collaboration with academic institutions, specialized market professionals and distinguished marketing, sales and export consultants.

At the end of the program, all participants will receive Certificates of Completion.

Interested applicants can submit their application HERE.

Participation in the program is free of charge and applications will remain open from 19 November to 7 December 2025.

The 1st training activity of Agrifood Leadership 2025–2026 was successfully completed from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 November 2025 in Veria, marking the official launch of the new cycle (2025–2026) of the only leadership education program for the agrifood sector in Greece.

Agrifood Leadership 2025–2026 is implemented by New Agriculture New Generation, through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and is carried out under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. Technical and Strategic Advisor of the program is Rutgers University (USA). Supporter of the 1st training activity was the Association of Imathia’s Agricultural Cooperatives.

Training in Modern Leadership & Experiential Learning

During the 1st training activity, participants had the opportunity to be introduced to the basic principles of leadership and take part in a comprehensive experiential learning experience designed to cultivate the skills and attitudes essential for today’s agrifood professionals.

The trainer of the session was Mr. Ioannis Mavrokoridis, a specialized Corporate Executive Trainer. Through targeted activities, real-case analyses, behavioral-type workshops and modern participatory learning methods, participants engaged with various dimensions of leadership and laid the foundation for developing their own personal leadership identity.

Visit to the Facilities of the Association of Imathia’s Agricultural Cooperatives

A key part of the program was the visit to the facilities of the Association of Imathia’s Agricultural Cooperatives, where participants became acquainted with a successful and modern model of cooperative operation, production, and extroversion.

During the visit, an open discussion was held with Mr. Christos Giannakakis, Vice President of the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Greece, who shared experiences and valuable insights on leadership, cooperative operations, and current challenges in the agricultural sector. At the same time, participants had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Effie Lazaridou, CEO of New Agriculture New Generation, who emphasized the importance of developing high-caliber human capital and the need to empower a new generation of leaders in the agrifood industry.

A Growing Community of Leaders

The 1st training activity brought together the new cohort of participants, laying the groundwork for a dynamic community, one that has been built and evolving over the past three years, confirming the program’s ability to foster strong relationships, collaborations, and knowledge networks.

Supporters of the upcoming training activities include: Ioannina Agricultural Poultry Cooperative PINDOS, The Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association, COMPO EXPERT Hellas and Lidl Hellas.

New Agriculture New Generation (NANG) is a partner of ‘GROW’, a 3-year capacity-building initiative co-founded by EIT Food that empowers farmers to become influential leaders in molding a sustainable and resilient food system.

In collaboration with EIT Food, NANG is introducing ‘GROW,’ a project and a competence centre tailored specifically for farmers seeking to acquire the knowledge, tools and confidence needed to navigate the ever-evolving agrifood landscape.

The genesis of ‘GROW’ arises from the imperative to establish a comprehensive pan-European farmers’ community, offering a single, unified platform where farmers and producers can actively voice their needs, co-design valuable resources, and develop essential activities to enhance their agricultural businesses. With a curriculum built with the help of farmers themselves, NANG and six other esteemed partners across Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland are organizing local activities and events aimed at promoting sustainable and zero-carbon practices, bolstering farmers’ entrepreneurial skills, and mitigating the risks associated with adopting sustainable digital technologies.

New Agriculture New Generation, within the framework of the EIT Food – GROW initiative, will implement the program “Cultivating the Resilience of Greek Farmers”, a two-month, 20-hour training program aimed at empowering Greek farmers and agrifood entrepreneurs by enhancing their skills, sustainability practices and innovation capacity. Through asynchronous and synchronous learning, interactive sessions with experts, peer-to-peer forums, networking with stakeholders, and access to offline tools and educational materials tailored to Greek crops, participants will develop practical skills in regenerative agriculture, business development and innovation, while boosting their competitiveness and contributing to the revitalization of the agricultural sector in Greece. The program targets farmers and entrepreneurs active in rural and remote areas of the country, with selection criteria based on geographic location, type of agricultural activity, commitment to participation and social criteria such as gender equality, young farmers, and small-scale operations and will directly benefit over 120 participants. Training will be conducted by academics and professionals from the agrifood sector, as well as expert partners from the EIT Food network, and participation is free of charge, with a Certificate of Attendance awarded to all participants.

Learn more and apply HERE.

This program is organized by a consortium consisting of seven esteemed European partners: Food4Sustainability CoLAB (Portugal), BGI Sustainable Ventures (Portugal), Lund University (Sweden), Queen’s University (United Kingdom), Maspex (Poland), Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (Germany), and Polish Academy of Science (Poland).

PRAKSIS, in collaboration with New Agriculture New Generation and with the support of the Citi Foundation, is implementing from February 2025 and for a duration of two years the program “CULTIVATING HOPE – HARVESTING CHANGE PROJECT (CH-HC)”, under the motto “Planting Knowledge, Creating Opportunities.”

This is an innovative vocational rehabilitation program designed for people experiencing homelessness in Greece.

The program includes educational seminars and on-the-job training in real-life settings. Participants will have the opportunity to receive practical training in vegetable gardens, combined with theoretical instruction provided by specialized professionals.

At least 300 beneficiaries will be able to take part, gaining meaningful opportunities for social and economic inclusion. Participation in the program is completely free of charge.

Training sessions will take place in five cycles throughout the program’s duration, with November 2025 expected to mark the start of the first training cycle in Attica.

To express your interest, please fill out the application form HERE.

For more information, please contact Ms. Ioanna Tabaki at +30 6985866432 | [email protected]

The Global Innovation Challenge supports nonprofit organizations that develop innovative solutions to economic and social challenges in low-income communities around the world.

The key goals of the program include:

• developing professional skills and competencies,

• providing personalized support,

• enhancing employability in the agri-food and tourism sectors, and

• fostering entrepreneurship.

With great joy, honor, and a sense of responsibility, the organization New Agriculture New Generation announces that it is among the 50 civil society organizations worldwide selected by the Citi Foundation under the Global Innovation Challenge 2025 program.

The announcement took place on October 21, 2025, in New York, where the organizations that will each receive $500,000 in funding were presented, aiming to develop innovative employment solutions for low-income youth.

The new program: Bridge to Employment: Future Ready (BE Future READY)

New Agriculture New Generation was selected for the design and implementation management of the program “Bridge to Employment: Future Ready (BE Future READY),” which will be carried out in collaboration with ActionAid throughout Greece.

The program aims to offer more than 500 young people fast-track training that will act as a “Bridge to Employment.” Participants will receive certifications from training activities focused on Green Skills, entrepreneurship, digital and financial literacy, as well as paid apprenticeships in the agrifood sector.

At the same time, awareness-raising activities and job fairs will be organized at ActionAid centers in Athens and Thessaloniki to connect participants directly with employment opportunities.

The program targets low-income young people in Greece who are unemployed or underemployed, with a focus on rural and semi-rural areas, low-income urban centers, young women engaged in agriculture and entrepreneurship, as well as young migrants and refugees. Through targeted training and career guidance actions, the program seeks to improve beneficiaries’ access to sustainable employment prospects, contributing to social cohesion and regional development.

Statement by Aimilios Kyriakou, CEO of Citi Greece and Head of Commercial Banking for Greece, Cyprus, and Malta:

“We are particularly proud that another Greek proposal was distinguished in Citi’s Global Innovation Challenge 2025, which aims to strengthen youth employability through a total of $25 million in funding to 50 organizations worldwide.
Following our successful collaboration with New Agriculture New Generation on the Social Farming 360° program, Citi and the Citi Foundation are once again partnering with the organization, supporting the ‘Bridge to Employment’ program—another important step in our ongoing commitment to support the most vulnerable members of society and the communities in which we operate.
With more than 60 years of continuous presence in Greece, Citi remains committed to giving back to Greek society and, together with New Agriculture New Generation, acts as a ‘bridge’ between young people and the Greek countryside.”

Statement by Effie Lazaridou, CEO of New Agriculture New Generation:

“It is an exceptional distinction for us that the Citi Foundation has chosen us for the second time in three years as recipients of the Global Innovation Challenge among thousands of competing organizations.
We continue to support the sustainable development of rural areas and youth employment in the regions, and with this new program, we will strengthen young people’s green and entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to access employment and growth opportunities in the crucial agrifood sector.”

Statement by Eva Polyzogopoulou, General Director of ActionAid Greece:

“We create sustainable employment prospects for young people, giving them tools and a voice through education and continuous support. Our long-standing experience with vulnerable groups and youth makes the collaboration between the Citi Foundation, New Agriculture New Generation, and ActionAid even more meaningful and impactful.”

New Agriculture New Generation has been selected for the second consecutive time by the Citi Foundation under the Global Innovation Challenge, having also been awarded in 2023 for the Social Farming 360 program, implemented in collaboration with the General Secretariat for Anti-Crime Policy, ActionAid and Freedom Gate.

The organization also participates in another Global Innovation Challenge project led by PRAKSIS, focused on the professional reintegration of individuals experiencing housing insecurity.

This continuous international recognition highlights the consistency, reliability, and social contribution of New Agriculture New Generation in promoting employment and sustainable development within the agrifood sector.