Category: Workforce Development Programms

Program Title

Rebuilding Beekeeping Sector in Thessaly: Queen Rearing: Replenishing Bee Colonies and Rescuing Local Genetic Material

Brief Description

The organization New Agriculture New Generation announces the initiation of the program “Rebuilding Beekeeping Sector in Thessaly: Queen Rearing: Replenishing Bee Colonies and Rescuing Local Genetic Material”. The program is aimed at all affected beekeepers in Thessaly and is implemented within the framework of the action “Rebuilding Beekeeping Sector in Thessaly”.

The program is designed and implemented in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens, under the scientific guidance of the Laboratory of Sericulture and Beekeeping, headed by Associate Professor Georgios Goras. It is co-funded by the organization New Agriculture New Generation through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the Region of Thessaly, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, and the company APIVITA.

The program “Rebuilding Beekeeping Sector in Thessaly: Queen Rearing: Replenishing Bee Colonies and Rescuing Local Genetic Material” will be implemented from April to September 2024 and will provide support to 300 affected professional beekeepers in Thessaly, by supplying 27,000 queen cells.

The above actions will contribute not only to the restoration of the damages caused by “Daniel” but also to the development of conditions for the future strengthening of the sector in Thessaly.

Purpose of the Program

The organization New Agriculture New Generation aims to contribute to the reconstruction of the beekeeping sector and to support the beekeepers of Thessaly after the floods caused by the phenomenon “Daniel”.

The program aims to support up to 300 beekeepers affected by the catastrophic weather event Daniel with 27,000 queen cells originating from the endemic genetic material of the region. The production of queen cells will be carried out by 10 specialized queen breeders who will provide queen cells either from their own selected genetic material or from selected genetic material of the beekeeper, if available. The program offers the opportunity to produce suitable genetic material and quality queens with the ultimate goal of quickly replenishing the lost bee colonies.

The 10 specialized queen breeders were trained in the successful program “Queenrearing: Utilization, Rescue, and Improvement of Bee Genetic Material in Thessaly” and performed more than 800 inoculations between 2022 and 2023. This specific action has already received significant awards in Greece, such as the Bravo Sustainability Award 2022, category “Protection of Ecosystems and Biodiversity” and the GOLD Environmental Award, category “Sustainable Agriculture”.

Target Audience

All beekeepers in Thessaly.

Priority will be given to affected beekeepers, following evaluation of applications.

Areas of Action

Regional Units of Larissa, Karditsa, Magnesia, Trikala.

Application Submission & Duration of Action

Phase B of Participation Applications until April 30, 2024.

The provision of queen cells will take place from April to September 2024.

Contact Numbers for Larissa Regional Unit

Elina Kampisiou: 6974012351

Ioannis Senkos: 6936820666

Contact Numbers for Karditsa Regional Unit

Katerina Apostolopoulou: 6993736456

Alexandros Giannakopoulos: 6988198696

Alexandros Liatsos: 6976290719

Giorgos Xiros: 6983603675

Contact Numbers for Magnesia Regional Unit

Dimitris Kolettas: 6974202989

Periklis Stamou: 6972501043

Contact Numbers for Trikala Regional Unit

Konstantinos Lamprogeorgos: 6979630121

Ioannis Topalidis: 6974917578

For More Information

Kalliopi Karamboiki, Capacity Building Manager

New Agriclture New Generation

Tel: 2106917986, 6972096122

Email: [email protected]

Filippa Griva

Agricultural University of Athens

Tel: 6982187876

Email: [email protected]

Short Description

The training program is designed and implemented by the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), under the scientific guidance of a host of experienced university professors, researchers and professionals. The action is headed by assistant professor Michael Goliomytis, with many years of experience in extensive services and vocational training in animal production.
The training program entitled “Broiler Farming”, offers training in broiler, broiler parent stock and turkey production with the aim to develop required knowledge, skills and competences to 60 young farmers and newcomers in order to successfully run a profitable farm with respect to animal welfare, environment and society.
The training program has a duration of 40 hours, of which 36 hours are allocated to theory and 4 hours are allocated to practical training in a poultry farm.
A Certificate of Attendance is provided at the end of the program.

 

Program Objectives

The objective of the program is to provide young farmers with learning outcomes that will be shortly implemented by them in order to increase performance and consequently profitability of their farm with positive effects on sustainability of local communities.
At the same time, newcomers will have the advantage of designing and run properly a poultry farm from the start of its function which minimizes possible faults and mistakes that might have occurred without the participation in the present poultry farming training program.

 

Target Group

Young male and female individuals that are:
• broiler and/or broiler parent stock and/or turkey farmers,
• unemployment and underemployment newcomers who intent to become broiler and/or broiler parent stock and/or turkey farmers, preferably individuals that have been applied and/or received financial support (for example, from the European Union and the Greek state) for establishment of a broiler and/or broiler parent stock and/or turkey farm.

 

Curriculum

The curriculum includes the following topics (indicatively):

• Best management practices for farming of: Broiler, Broiler parent stock,Turkeys
• Modern approaches in poultry feeding
• On farm bio-security measures
• Designing a vaccination program, vaccine types, routes of administration, best practices
• Common diseases of broilers, broiler parent stock and turkeys
• Poultry house design, facilities and equipment, new technologies and modern approaches
• Poultry welfare
• Environmental impact of a poultry farm
• Production costs calculation

 

Areas of activation of the 2021-22 training round

Arta – Ioannina – Chalkida

 

Duration of action

Three teaching courses of 20 trainees each will be implemented in aforementioned areas with first course starting in Autumn 2021.
The duration of each training course will be 10 days, 4 teaching hours a day.
Attendance is mandatory.

 

Additional Information

Michael Goliomytis

Tel: 2105294963, 2105294446
Email: [email protected]

 

Short description

The educational program is designed and implemented by the Laboratory of Floriculture, Department of Agriculture, of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in collaboration with the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association and the Region of North Aegean. The scientific team is framed by a number of experienced professors of the University, whose coordinator is the Assistant Professor Mr. Stefanos Hatzilazarou.

The specific training program for the propagation – cultivation of mastic trees, will prepare two groups of 24 young people, who will develop into trained mastic growers. Upon completion of the program, trainees will be the new leaders in the profession and will be able to support the propagation and cultivation of mastic trees, applying both the results of studies and best practices applied internationally and in other related species.

The training program lasts 120 hours, of which 90 hours is theory and 30 hours is practice in propagation.

At the end of the program a Certificate of Attendance will be given to participants.

Objective of the Program

The main goal of the program is to be a good starting point for young mastic growers, who will then be able to successfully practice and develop their business.

 

Target Audience

Participants should be :

• 18-40 years old (or 41-55 if the previous group is not completed)
• Members of the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association
• Willing to participate in the training program (at least 90% attendance) and interested in mastic trees cultivation.

 

Curriculum

The curriculum includes the following topics (indicatively):

• Propagation of mastic trees
• Biodiversity – Organic and integrated agriculture – Sustainable development
• Mastic tree diseases – treatment
• Medicinal properties and mechanisms of mastic biosynthesis
• Molecular control of mastic products
• Uses of plant biostimulants – fertilization – mycorrhizae
• Weed management methods in mastic crops
• Innovative marketing strategies – European Union funding – enhancing of collaborative culture

 

Areas of activation of the 2021-22 training round

Chios

 

Duration of action

14 months (beginning October 2021, ending November 2022)
Attendance is mandatory. If face to face training is not possible, the lessons will be done online.The courses will take place 2 to 4 days each month, while in August and September there will be no courses and activities (to facilitate the production of mastic) as in December, January and February (due to covid-19 ).

 

Additional Information

Laboratory of Floriculture A.U.Th.

Stefanos Hatzilazarou

Tel: 2310990308

Email: [email protected]

Stefanos Kostas

Tel: 2310991775

Email: [email protected]

Short description

The project has been planned by the Municipality of Agia in cooperation with the Agricultural Cooperative of Melivia “Athanati” in order to support the agricultural sector and fulfill the need for High Quality Agricultural Products and Sustainable Farming according to a long-term plan based on the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN. Innovative methods, new technologies and tools shall increase the added value of the local products and change the mentality of the people involved through extroversion and new cooperation opportunities.

The project consists of 2 Strands:

Strand 1 of the training programm focuses on the need of the farmers to protect the chestnut trees, decrease the costs for plant protection and improve the quality through the use of ecological insecticides.

Strand 2 of the training programm is based on a very detailed education plan that includes every part of the farming process, access to innovative farming methods and High Quality Certifications, the connection between local agricultural products and the tourism sector, skills and competences of the farmers, long-term planning, consulting and sales management that will improve the competitiveness, the extroversion and the quality of the local agricultural products of the Municipality of Agia.

 

Project objective

Main aim of this project is to meet the needs of the young farmers that live in less favoured areas, give them the opportunity to gain new skills and innovative production methods and support them tο pursue economic activity in their home place.

 

Target group

Tree growers, members of the Agricultural Cooperative of Melivia, agronomists, local tourism stakeholders, entrepreneurs, members of associations, unemployed

The participants are allowed to choose to participate in both strands.

As of Strand 1 the participation in all of the sections is mandatory.

As of Strand 2 the participants are allowed to choose any section they wish to.

 

Curriculum

The proposal has two (2) Strands:

STRAND 1: Plant protection – Modern innovative and ecological ways to fight against the diseases of chestnut trees”

1. Use of pheromones and pheromone traps

2. Organic insecticides

3. Application of precision spraying through the use of new technologies

4. Environmental indicators – Sustainable use of pesticides – Disposal of empty pesticide packaging

 

STRAND 2: Modern methods of production, certification, packaging and promotion of local agricultural products.

Section 1: Production methods, Quality control and Promotion of Agricultural Products

1. Precision Farming

2. Agroecology

3. Quality Control Systems, Food Hygiene and Safety

4. Processing and packaging of raw agricultural products

5. Retail Sales of Agricultural Products – Direct Sales of Agricultural Products – Legislation – Tools – Purchasing Habits Analysis – Customer Needs Analysis

5.1 Marketing of Agricultural Products + Export marketing

5.2 Export Procedures & Contracting

6. E-banking, E-Commerce, Use of New Technologies in the Sales Management of agricultural products

7. Quality Control Systems – National and International Quality Standards (IFS/BRC) GLOBALGAP/GLOBALGAP GRASP -PDO – PGI – Organic Farming

Section 2: Processing of Local Agricultural Products

1. Organic Food and Drinks

2. Processing of local agricultural products – Traditional recipies – Processing methods – Replacement of sugar – Use of stevia

Section 3: Connecting Agriculture with Tourism

8. Open farms – Tourism product

10. Connecting the primary sector with the tertiary sector – Sustainable tourism strategy

The project will take place in the Municipality of Agia (Eastern Thessaly)

 

Duration of the project

12 months

Participation is mandatory – A Certificate of Attendance will be issued. Lessons take place 2-3 times / month. All participants will be informed in case of changes due to Covid-19 restrictions

 

For further info

Theodora Patsiavoudi

Economist

Department of Planning, Organization and Informatics, Municipality of Agia

Tel:+306974508249

E-mail: [email protected]