Category: Regional Development

The non-profit organization “New Agriculture New Generation” has launched the implementation of the program “Restarting the Rural Economy in Northern Evia,” which is part of the Fire relief initiative for Νorthern Evia by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

The unprecedented wildfires in the summer of 2021 in Northern Evia left behind incalculable damages, destroying homes, facilities, agricultural and livestock farms, as well as the area’s forest wealth and wildlife.

The “Restarting the Rural Economy in Northern Evia” program, implemented by the non-profit organization “New Agriculture New Generation,” is part of the Fire relief initiative for Νorthern Evia by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). It includes targeted actions to support four groups of residents in the area, with the ultimate goal of quickly and effectively regenerating the affected areas as much as possible.

Specifically, the program supported 300 beekeepers, 300 resin producers/forest workers, 40 livestock farmers, and the local communities in the areas of the Municipality of Limni-Mantoudi-Agia Anna and the Municipality of Istiaia-Aidipsos over a period of one year through the following actions:

1. Beekeepers (November 2021 – March 2022) a) Training for the recovery of lost bee colonies. b) Creation of a pilot beekeeping park in the private Noel-Baker forest. c) Purchase of professional equipment.
2. Resin Producers/Forest Workers (November – December 2021) a) Replacement of technical equipment and safety gear.
3. Livestock Farmers (November – December 2021, March – August 2022) a) Training on animal welfare, reproduction, and nutrition.
4. Local Communities (November – December 2021, March – April 2022) a) Support for home food production.

Regional Development initiative 

A new initiative for the support of the agrifood activity has started in the wider area of the the village of Vamvakou at Lakonia and Mount Parnon through “New Agriculture New Generation” in collaboration with the team of Vamvakou Revival, as part of the initiative to revive the village and enhance the wider area. The two organizations – supported by Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) on a regular basis – are entering into a fruitful collaboration aiming at the generation of job opportunities through the activation of the agrifood sector, as well as at the return of inhabitants, professionals and potential entrepreneurs to the area, who are interested in working with land.

Vision and partners

The support action will run for a year and its vision is to enhance entrepreneurship and boost regional development, through activities supporting primary production and the link of its products with opportunities in the market. This annual program of scientific and business support will be realized in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens and a consulting company specializing in the growth of agrifood entrepreneurship, Sweet Ideas, with Tasos Lambrou in charge.

Activities

It includes targeted activities of consulting and sustainable development, focusing on the sectors of sheep-and-goat farming and aromatic and pharmaceutical plants – two sectors of particular interest and with opportunities for growth, as the area has the necessary production volume and the appropriate human resources. In fact, the first group of farmers and entrepreneurs interested in this initiative has been formed and, thus, possibilities and prospects of sustainable development will be explored through synergies in these two sectors. We hope that this hub will attract young people and will be just the beginning for a new era in the agrifood sector in the area.

Within this framework, the Agricultural University of Athens will undertake the task of drawing up studies on the two sectors, aiming at the optimization of the technical characteristics of the production units and of their financial sustainability. It will offer training, consulting and guidance services and include in-situ visits of the scientists of the University to the beneficiaries in the area. Moreover, the consulting team specializing in agribusiness will realize business plans for particular business activities and products, as well as feasibility and sustainability studies for potential processing and standardization infrastructure.