Category: News

In a festive atmosphere, the Certificate of Completion Ceremony for participants of the 1st cycle of the Agrifood Leadership program (2023-2024) was successfully held on Friday, August 30, 2024, at the Open Farm Agora in the Central Vegetable Market of Athens.

Specifically, the event, attended by journalists and agrifood business executives, featured a brief review of the educational program and its achievements, followed by the awarding of Certificates of Completion to 14 Leaders who successfully completed the program.

More specifically, the Agrifood Leadership program is the first specialized leadership program for the agrifood sector in Greece, aiming to enhance leadership skills in up-and-coming talented professionals who hold leadership positions or aspire to play a dynamic role in the sector. It is a high-profile networking and education program modeled after similar programs in the USA.

The Agrifood Leadership program is implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation through a founding donation by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), with Rutgers University of the USA serving as the Technical and Strategic Advisor. The program is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and supported by numerous companies and organizations, including: COMPO EXPERT, the Consortium of Cooperatives and Producer Groups of Imathia Prefecture, Batsolakis Meat School, the Chios Mastiha Growers Association, the Messinia Union, A.TH. KOUIMTZIS S.A., NuAqua, DAY GROUP, BAYER, COSMOCERT, and SKY EXPRESS.

Participants took part in 8 educational three-day sessions, during which they visited companies in the sector and decision-making centers in various parts of Greece. There was also a visit to Brussels, where they met with European institutions related to agrifood, as well as companies based in the city.

The trainees also participated in leadership role activities and online training. Overall, they completed over 90 hours of intensive high-level courses covering topics such as Leadership, Analytical Skills, Marketing Principles, Governance, Agricultural Economics and Policy, among others.

The goal of the program is to empower tomorrow’s Leaders in the Agrifood Sector, prioritizing sustainability, technology, participation, market orientation, collaboration, adaptability, and resilience. In the medium term, the program aims to create a community of dynamic professionals in the agrifood sector who will be in open communication and cooperation to contribute to the overall development of the productive ecosystem.

At the Certificate Ceremony, Mrs. Effie Lazaridou, CEO of the organization New Agriculture New Generation, delivered an address in which she stated, “The agrifood sector is at a critical crossroads and needs to redefine its role in the economy and society. We need producers, entrepreneurs, and professionals in the sector to lead this evolution, create a new vision, and design new strategies, overcoming today’s shortcomings and limitations.”

A video message was also delivered by Robert M. Goodman, Executive Dean Emeritus, University Distinguished Professor – Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at Rutgers University, USA, who stated, “Congratulations on completing the Leadership Program of the New Agriculture New Generation organization. This program is the first of its kind to be offered in Europe. Its main goal is to create, over time, a community of leaders in agriculture and food in Greece. Leaders who not only know how to better manage their businesses but who also care about and promote the cross-sectoral needs that affect everyone—strengthening not only individual businesses but also supporting the common needs of the sector and the broader public.”

Dimitris Voloudakis, Capacity Building Director and Program Manager, also gave a speech, saying, “Our ambition is to cultivate together the values and skills necessary for the creation of the future leaders that the Greek and global agriculture and food sectors need so much. The challenges are great. In less than 20 years, the number of farmers in our country will be reduced to a third. The countryside is at risk of desertification, and our land is at risk of desertification due to climate change. The sector needs those who will lead producers towards more sustainable food and energy production systems. The next steps of the program include the creation of a networking, communication, and support framework that will also welcome future generations of program graduates.”

Members of the Program Advisory Committee were also present at the event, including Mrs. Dina Lazari, Member of the Board of Directors, Hellenic Exchanges – Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX), Mr. Panos Hamakiotis, Regional Director EMEA and Managing Director of COMPO EXPERT Hellas & Spain, and Mrs. Anastasia Sarhosoglou, Agronomist and Food Scientist, MSc, MEd.

Supporters of the Certificate Ceremony: Lafazanis Winery.

The 14 Leaders who successfully completed the program are:

• Andreas Akratos (Athens) – Interpreter-Translator, Investor in hydroponic greenhouses and poultry farms
• Kyriakos Gikas (Igoumenitsa) – Asparagus and other crop producer, Cooperative member
• Georgios Dalianis (Halkidiki) – Agronomist, Founder of CERELCO AGROTRADE
• Ioanna Doufexi (Athens) – Agronomist, Food Technologist, Head of Studies at Batsolakis Meat School
• Christos Zacharakis (Agrinio) – Economist, Marketing Manager, Producer (corn, alfalfa, citrus fruits)
• Fani Zacharouli (Larissa) – Agronomist-Agricultural Economist, Executive at an agricultural consultancy company
• Dimitris Misiakas (Veria) – Forester, Project Manager at the Imathia Producer Groups Consortium
• Eleni Bikou (Thessaloniki) – Economist, CFO at AGROTECH
• Konstantinos Bogis (Chios) – Economist, CFO at the Chios Mastiha Growers Association
• Konstantinos Nikolaidis (Halkidiki) – Agronomist, Olive producer and entrepreneur
• Georgia Panagopoulou (Athens) – Chemical Engineer, Digital Marketer for wine promotion, Wine branding entrepreneur
• Stefania Rizou (Karditsa-Athens) – Financial Consultant/Auditor, Agrifood Startup founder
• Ioannis Senko (Larissa) – Beekeeper, President of the Beekeeping Cooperative, Youtuber
• Christina Chatzimichail (Larissa) – Chemical Engineer, Shareholder in an agricultural supplies company

Undoubtedly, the success of this 1st cycle of the Agrifood Leadership program, implemented by New Agriculture New Generation with the contribution of Rutgers University, creates a significant legacy for the future, as it demonstrates that there is talent interested in developing new knowledge and acquiring the skills that will lead to the overall transformation of the agrifood sector in Greece.

The new cycle of the Agrifood Leadership program begins in fall 2024, with applications open until September 15, 2024.

DS Smith, a leading manufacturer of sustainable corrugated cardboard packaging solutions in Greece, is actively contributing to the advancement of the country’s agri-food sector by partnering for the second consecutive year with the organization ‘New Agriculture New Generation’ to support the industry, this time by backing the TrophyΤροφή program. Specifically, DS Smith Hellas will support three meet-ups of the program, with the main theme being ‘Reducing the use of plastic in the agri-food sector,’ which will take place during the last four months of 2024 at three universities across the country.

But what exactly is TrophyΤροφή?

TrophyΤροφή is an innovative initiative that highlights and rewards pioneering business ideas and startups in the fields of agritechnology, food technology, and agrologistics, offering products and services that utilize innovative technologies, even at the early stages of development (pre-seed). So far, thanks to this program, 122 startups from this sector have already been supported.

The meet-ups are an integral part of TrophyΤροφή. There, students, startuppers, new entrepreneurs, and researchers come into contact with research institutions, investors, mentors, and companies, working together to develop new groundbreaking ideas through hands-on workshops.

For DS Smith, the adoption of sustainable development practices and circular economy is at the core of its activities, and the transformation of the agrifood sector can be framed by innovative and environmentally friendly packaging solutions that will enhance the added value of the final products. In this context, the company supports in the three meet-ups the thematic section titled: ‘Reducing the use of plastic in the agrifood sector.’

Mr. George Filippoglou, DS Smith Managing Director for the Greece cluster, stated: ‘We are particularly pleased that for another year we stand by New Agriculture New Generation, as through this collaboration we have contributed to strengthening the agri-food sector while highlighting the crucial role that corrugated cardboard packaging plays in promoting the country’s sustainable development.’

The three Meet-ups supported by DS Smith Hellas are the following:

• Trophy Meet-up co-organized with the Agricultural University of Athens.
• Trophy Meet-up co-organized with the University of the Peloponnese.
• Trophy Meet-up co-organized with the University of Macedonia.

Ms. Effie Lazaridou, CEO of the organization New Agriculture New Generation, stated: ‘TrophyΤροφή is a meaningful initiative that connects the academic community with the industry and the market in the critical agri-food sector. Every year it brings hundreds of students and researchers into contact with innovative companies through the TrophyΤροφή meet-ups that are held at universities across Greece, providing an effective platform for the exchange of business ideas and experiences. More than 700 students have participated in the program’s meet-ups over the past two years, working on developing innovative solutions and starting to design their first entrepreneurial steps. DS Smith, a pioneering company in corrugated cardboard packaging that invests in sustainable practices, supports 3 meet-ups, enriching the content of the TrophyΤροφή initiative.’

DS Smith is headquartered in London and is a member of the FTSE 100, operating in 34 countries and employing approximately 30,000 people, with its history dating back to packaging production companies from 1940. In Greece, the company has been present for the last 65 years with factories in Corinth, Thessaloniki, and Crete, employing over 400 workers in total. DS Smith Hellas actively supports the TrophyΤροφή initiative of the organization New Agriculture New Generation, with the aim of boosting innovation and sustainability in Greece’s agrifood ecosystem through a substantial and reliable effort to accelerate startup entrepreneurship.

TrophyΤροφή has been successfully implemented since 2019 by the organization New Agriculture New Generation, thanks to the founding grant of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

An event with international interest in the field of aquaculture was held on Tuesday, June 11th, at the Museum of Cycladic Art, organized by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the organization New Agriculture New Generation, with the support of the Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organization (HAPO) and the Panhellenic Association of Ichthyologists (PASTI).

The event marked the beginning of the training and business development program “Promoting small-scale aquaculture sustainability in Southeast Mediterranean,” which will involve 5 small-scale aquaculture units from the Mediterranean, selected after an open competition by the GFCM in their countries.

Greetings were delivered by Ms. Maria Damanaki, former Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Union, Mr. Houssam Hamza, Aquaculture Officer of the GFCM, and Ms. Effie Lazaridou, CEO of the organization New Agriculture New Generation.

Ms. Damanaki emphasized the importance of aquaculture for the future of food security and praised the significance of this initiative and its implementation in Greece. Mr. Hamza noted, “Small-scale aquaculture is an integral part of Mediterranean heritage and significantly contributes to the Mediterranean diet. Supporting and modernizing tools to ensure the well-being of aquaculturists, aquatic food products, and the environment is of vital importance.” Ms. Lazaridou presented the general philosophy of the “Promoting small-scale aquaculture sustainability in Southeast Mediterranean” program and its importance, stating among other things, “We are proud that Greece is a leader in the field of aquaculture. The food produced from aquaculture can provide a sustainable and nutritious source with a lower carbon footprint compared to other animal production activities and support food security in the Mediterranean. In this context, it is an honor for our organization to collaborate with the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, which entrusted us with such an important initiative. As an organization, we had the opportunity to adapt our exclusive business acceleration methodologies to serve a promising sector that can become a sustainable solution for feeding humanity. We are convinced that this effort will mark the beginning of further initiatives for a sustainable food value chain from aquatic ecosystems.”

Three particularly interesting thematic discussions on the aquaculture sector followed.

The first panel, titled “Trends in the aquaculture industry at the international and regional level,” featured participants Leonidas Papacharisis, Scientific Advisor of the Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organization (HAPO), Vlasis Tsesos, CEO of Agritrack, and Ioannis Tsovenis, Founder of MicroPhykos, moderated by Mr. Alexandros Nousias, Country Director of Envolve Entrepreneurship. The discussion focused on new trends already shaping the industry, such as the use of new IoT technologies, the choice to utilize new species, such as algae, and the importance of producing and utilizing data generated from the entire value chain of the industry, also highlighting the contribution of technology to its sustainability.

The second panel, titled “Linking research and industry advancements to the market,” featured Associate Professor Mr. Manolis Malandrakis from the Agricultural University of Athens and Mr. Panos Kalogiourgas, Strategy Manager of Deloitte, moderated by Mr. Antonis Papadopoulos, Director of Business Development at New Agriculture New Generation. The discussion focused on how academic research can contribute to the industry’s development with new production methods, the introduction of new species, and the creation of efficient healthy foods while being directly connected to market needs and supporting the development of new innovative solutions for aquaculture.

The third and final panel, titled “Highlighting the role of Producer Organizations, Associations, and Chambers of Commerce in the industry’s progress and competitiveness,” featured Ms. Ismini Bogdanou, Marketing and Communication Director of the Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organization (HAPO), and Dr. Michalis Chatzievstathiou, Member of the Board of the Panhellenic Association of Ichthyologists (PASTI), moderated by Mr. George Paximadis, aquaculture expert of the GFCM. Through a very interesting dialogue, the role of synergies in the sector was highlighted, the need for the public and private sectors to connect and interact, and the importance of continuous information for all productive parts of the industry to be competitive and sustainable.

The event concluded with the awarding of executives from 5 small-scale aquaculture units selected to participate in the training and skills development program. The units come from the following countries: Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia, and the awarded executives will participate in a business acceleration program, which will include: a) An intensive ten-day training workshop in Greece from 12/6 to 21/6. The training workshops, taught by an international educational team, cover topics such as business development, innovation, sustainability, technological trends, safety, and sales. b) Visits to model aquaculture units in our country, as well as research laboratories, to be informed about Greek expertise in the sector. c) 100 hours of personalized consulting from specialized advisors to improve their businesses.

The holding of this event for the aquaculture sector in Athens and the choice of Greece as the implementation site of the international program highlights the significant role our country holds in the sector and the prospects that are forming for it to become a point of international interest.”

The organization New Agriculture New Generation announces the launch of the “Open Olive Cultivation Academy.” This new educational initiative is designed in collaboration with the Municipality of Northern Kynouria and the Chamber of Arcadia, aiming to support and develop the primary sector of the region. It is implemented by the New Agriculture New Generation organization through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

Olive oil production in Northern Kynouria is one of the most significant agricultural activities, with production exceeding 3,000 tons annually. Despite this success, Greece has one of the lowest percentages of trained farmers in the European Union, making the improvement of knowledge transfer systems imperative.

Program Objective: The “Open Olive Cultivation Academy” aims to strengthen the olive cultivation sector in the Municipality of Northern Kynouria through knowledge transfer. Comprehensive and intensive training seminars will provide participants with basic knowledge and practical skills in all phases of olive cultivation, production, and marketing.

The seminars will cover the following modules:

• Preparation and installation of an olive grove
• Olive tree physiology
• Cultivation practices
• Plant protection & climate change
• Quality
• Processing and marketing

The seminar instructors will include expert scientists from the New Agriculture New Generation organization, external collaborators, market executives, academics, and university professors.

Target Audience: The initiative is addressed to olive growers in the Municipality of Northern Kynouria, whether they are full-time or part-time farmers. Additionally, professionals from the entire olive oil value chain, such as olive mill owners, processors, and traders, can participate.

Priority will be given to young professional producers under the age of 45, followed by other professional producers of any age, based on the evaluation of the applications.

Action Area: Municipality of Northern Kynouria.

Action Duration: The initiative will start on June 28 and will be completed in early October, with a total duration of 52 training hours covering six (6) two-day sessions.

SUPPORT THE ACTION

With highly engaging training sessions and a dense schedule of visits, the eighth three-day event of the Agrifood Leadership program, the first specialized Leadership program in Agrifood implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation in Greece, was concluded.

The educational three-day event, which is also the last of the program for this year, took place in Athens, Loutraki, and Nemea from May 24th to 26th, sponsored by NuAqua. The goal of the Agrifood Leadership program is to give participants the opportunity to become members of a community of leaders, network with esteemed professionals in the Agrifood sector, and discuss new trends in production, processing, and supply chain management.

The main instructor of the three-day event was Mr. Stathis Klonaris, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Agricultural Economics & Development at the Agricultural University of Athens, whose lectures focused on the Common Agricultural Policy and the Greek strategic plan. All aspects of the common agricultural policy and the opportunities it offers to those engaged in the Agrifood sector were thoroughly analyzed. Noteworthy was the lecture on the importance of certifications in agricultural production given by Mr. Vasilis Kitsos, Technical Director from COSMOCERT, which participates as a program and certification sponsor by providing 10 free certifications for organic products to the participating producers of Agrifood Leadership.

Participants of the program had a dense schedule of visits and presentations during the three days. Specifically, on Friday, a visit was made to Piraeus Bank, where the Agrifood Leadership team discussed with the leadership of agricultural banking, while the same day included a visit to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, particularly to the Services responsible for the implementation of the Rural Development Program and the Strategic Plan.

An excellent impression was made by the visit to the bottling plant of the natural mineral water eonio Loutraki by NuAqua, where the program participants had the opportunity to witness firsthand a success story of Greek processing.

The training sessions on Saturday and Sunday were held at Lafazanis Winery in Nemea, which were combined with visits to the winery’s vineyards and production facilities.

NuAqua was the sponsor of the three-day event, and we thank them for their contribution to the realization of the event and for the tour of the bottling plant facilities.

The Agrifood Leadership by the organization New Agriculture New Generation is the first specialized Leadership program in Agrifood in Greece. It lasts 90 hours and includes 8 experiential three-day events with training sessions, systematic networking actions, field visits to decision-making centers of the Agrifood sector, leadership role-playing activities, as well as 2 online training sessions. The program modules include, among others, basic concepts such as Leadership, Analytical Skills, Marketing Principles, Governance, Agricultural Economy and Policy, etc. The goal of the program is to empower the future Leaders of the Agrifood Sector to prioritize sustainability, technology, participation, market orientation, collaboration, adaptability, and resilience.

The Agrifood Leadership program is implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The Technical and Strategic Advisor is Rutgers University of the USA.

Sponsors of the Experiential Three-Day Events include COMPO EXPERT, KOUIMTZIS Group, Batsolakis Meat School, the Chios Mastiha Growers Association, the Consortium of Cooperatives of Producer Groups of Imathia, the Union of Messinia, and NuAqua. The International Visit Sponsor is DayGroup. The Program Sponsor is BAYER. The Program and Certification Sponsor is COSMOCERT. The Air Transport Sponsor is SKY express. The program is under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

The “Restarting Beekeeping in Thessaly” initiative, implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation, continues successfully. In April, the training program “Natural Disasters: Protection and Restoration of Beekeeping Capital,” which is part of this initiative, took place in Karditsa with significant participation.

The training workshop, held at the ELGO Dimitra Karditsa facility, aimed to improve beekeeping practices and enhance the overall health of bee colonies.

The program’s goal is to strengthen the resilience of bee colonies and reduce the impacts of climate change by transferring knowledge and practices from specialized scientists. The training was conducted by Mr. Alexandros Gkousiaris, a professional beekeeper and beekeeping trainer, who focused on creating an annual bee management plan and analyzed the measures beekeepers should take before, during, and after a natural disaster. Additionally, the benefits of queen rearing and native genetic material were discussed. The training also included Mr. Dimitris Voloudakis, Capacity Building Director of New Agriculture New Generation, who holds a Ph.D. specializing in the impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture. He discussed the effects of climate change on agriculture in general and beekeeping specifically.

The workshop was attended by 40 beekeepers and lasted 4 hours. The participants showed great interest, asking many questions related to the workshop’s themes, highlighting the local beekeepers’ need for access to specialized knowledge.

These trainings are conducted in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens and are co-financed by 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.

New Agriculture New Generation thanks ELGO Dimitra for providing the venue free of charge.

The “Restarting Beekeeping in Thessaly” initiative also includes the program “Queen Rearing: Restoration and Preservation of Endemic Genetic Material,” which has been underway since April 2024, attracting interest from over 300 local beekeepers. The program aims to support at least 300 affected professional beekeepers in Thessaly by providing 27,000 queen cells. These initiatives will contribute not only to repairing the damage caused by Daniel but also to developing the conditions for the future strengthening of the beekeeping sector in Thessaly.

The organization New Agriculture New Generation and the company Barba Stathis collaborated on the design and implementation of a specialized training program aimed at the partner producers of the company. The goal was to further develop their technical skills on current themes in the agri-food sector.

The training program included a series of practical sessions on regenerative agriculture, the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and climate change. These training sessions took place from February to April 2024 in Barba Stathis’s main cultivation areas, such as Amyntaio in Florina, Chalki in Larissa, Apollonia in Thessaloniki, Kilkis, and Giannitsa in Pella.

More specifically, focusing on developing the technical skills of participating producers, the training themes were structured as follows:

1. Regenerative agriculture, use of specialized nutrition products, regenerative and organic farming practices.
2. Presentation of the rights model and ecological schemes of the New CAP 2023-2027, focusing on “Rural Development Measures,” group production contract farming, financial support, and the strategic plan specifically for the company’s crops.
3. Climate change and agriculture, adaptation technologies and mitigation of negative impacts, as well as carbon farming.

The collaboration between New Agriculture New Generation and Barba Stathis strengthens the primary sector by transferring expertise from universities and market professionals to the participants. With a sense of responsibility, the company continues to practically support its partner producers across the country, focusing on providing incentives for engaging with Greek land.

This training program is part of the design and implementation of specialized programs by New Agriculture New Generation to provide training services to companies in the agri-food sector.

New Agriculture New Generation announces the launch of the “Social Farming 360” program, funded and supported by the Citi Foundation, in direct collaboration with the General Secretariat for Anti-Crime Policy of the Ministry of Citizen Protection, and with the participation of ActionAid and Pylh Eleftherias. The program aims to enhance food security, develop skills in vulnerable social groups, and develop new social farming products.

Food security is one of the top global challenges, with more than 770 million people suffering from some form of malnutrition. In Greece, sustainable food production, especially at a time when agricultural production is severely affected by phenomena resulting from the climate crisis, becomes a primary need.

With secured funding from the Citi Foundation and in close collaboration with the General Secretariat for Anti-Crime Policy, “Social Farming 360” is developed into a multifaceted, practical, two-year program. The program supports sustainable food production and distribution in correctional facilities in Greece, the training of inmates, the creation of employment opportunities in the agricultural sector, the optimization of existing crops such as olive farming and medicinal and aromatic plants, and the upgrading of the agricultural technical knowledge of correctional facility staff. Additionally, the program includes the development of soft skills and skills for professional integration and reintegration, and psychosocial training in collaboration with ActionAid and Pylh Eleftherias.

The General Secretariat for Anti-Crime Policy of the Ministry of Citizen Protection supports the program by providing four agricultural correctional facilities: Agia Chania, Tiryntha Argolida, Kassavetia Volos, and Kassandra Halkidiki, and two special detention centers: Women’s Detention Center and the Eleonas Thiva Drug Rehabilitation Center for Inmates.

“Social Farming 360” significantly contributes to transforming agricultural activities in Greek correctional facilities and actively supports both the reintegration of inmates and food security in the detention centers and the communities where they are located.

It is worth noting that New Agriculture New Generation is one of 50 organizations worldwide to receive $500,000 donations from the Citi Foundation to support programs focusing on four key areas: food access, food availability, economic affordability, and community resilience as part of the first Citi Foundation Global Innovation Challenge. This is a new $25 million holistic funding model to identify and provide philanthropic support to NGOs developing innovative solutions to the social and economic challenges facing low-income communities.

Citi Foundation’s – Voices from the Field

Emilios Kyriakou, CEO of Citi Greece, Cyprus, Malta:

“Safe, healthy, and nutritious food in adequate quantities is fundamental to everyone’s well-being, and continuous effort and collaboration at all levels are required to achieve this. There is an interconnection between environmental, social, political, and economic factors that exacerbate this difficult reality. We hope that the Citi Foundation’s new initiative ‘Global Innovation Challenge-food security’ will contribute to solving the problem. I wish success to the ‘Social Farming 360’ program of New Agriculture New Generation and to our volunteers who are eager to help.”

Effie Lazaridou, CEO of New Agriculture New Generation:

“We are proud to have the opportunity to contribute to transforming agricultural activities in agricultural prisons and to actively support both the reintegration of inmates and food security in the detention centers and the communities where they are based. The trust of the Citi Foundation honors us and motivates us even more to work, along with the General Secretariat for Anti-Crime Policy, towards sustainable food production, especially at a time when the climate crisis significantly affects agricultural productivity.”

Dimitra Lygoura, General Secretary for Anti-Crime Policy:

“With trust in the value of the ‘Social Farming 360’ program, I express my support for this initiative. The program is a valuable opportunity for the reintegration of vulnerable groups into our society and the creation of a more sustainable and inclusive social environment. With our participation and support for this program, we seek development that focuses on the individual and their place in our society. I congratulate the New Agriculture New Generation organization and the Citi Foundation for their initiative, and I am confident that this collaboration will have positive results on multiple levels.”

Makis Drakopoulos, Director of Programs and Institutional Funding, ActionAid:

“Through this program, which is based on ActionAid’s expertise in the work integration of people at risk of social exclusion, our goal is to help inmates develop their skills and gain the confidence to achieve their professional reintegration. We are happy and proud of the expansion of our programs in the field of education and reintegration of inmates in correctional facilities.”

Tina Annet Torronen, President, Pylh Eleftherias:

“Pylh Eleftherias, with many years of experience in implementing psychosocial support programs in correctional facilities, will contribute to the success of the program by enhancing the psychosocial framework and reintegration prospects of the inmates.”

The bee plays a key role in the natural environment and the productive agri-food ecosystem as a pollinator of plants. Specifically, 90% of flowering plants and 71% of plants responsible for producing 90% of food depend directly on bees for pollination and reproduction.

Unfortunately, bees are at risk as human intervention and climate change create serious problems for bee populations, which can lead to severe consequences for ecosystem balance and global food security. According to the UN, current species extinction rates are 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal, and 35% of invertebrate pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, and about 17% of vertebrate pollinators, such as bats, are globally threatened with extinction.

Because the role of bees is extremely important for our survival, the UN has established May 20 as “World Bee Day.”

For New Agriculture New Generation, the beekeeping sector is of particular interest, and it systematically invests in its complete transformation through the optimization of endemic genetic material and the training of thousands of professional beekeepers across Greece. Although our country has significant room for improvement, it remains an important honey producer with an annual production of approximately 30,000 tons.

New Agriculture New Generation has implemented 11 programs for beekeeping from 2018 to the present. These programs include beekeeper training, beekeeper training programs on queen rearing, as well as the demonstration and implementation of royal cell inoculations for the production of quality queens, selected genetic material from trained queen breeders to hundreds of beekeepers in the areas of Evia and Thessaly. Our programs have given special emphasis to supporting the affected areas of Thessaly (from storms “Ianos” and “Daniel”) and Evia, which was affected by devastating fires in 2021.

In the current beekeeping season, thousands of royal cells are being delivered free of charge in Thessaly. Additionally, a bee feed mixer was purchased and delivered to the Istiéa Beekeeping Cooperative “The Hive,” and a beekeeping park with a capacity of approximately 15 positions and 4,000 hives has been created in the Noel-Baker private forest in Northern Evia, thanks to the organization.

One of our most important programs is queen rearing, as the queen plays a primary role in a hive. Queen rearing, or the production of quality new queens from selected and endemic genetic material, contributes to the creation of strong, productive colonies. At the same time, it strengthens endemic bee breeds, which are better adapted to our local environment. It is very important that those trained as queen breeders can gain additional income from practicing this profession.

For example, 17 specialized queen breeders trained in the successful program “Queen Rearing: Utilization, Conservation, and Improvement of Bee Genetic Material in Thessaly” performed more than 800 inoculations during 2022 and 2023. This action has already received significant awards in Greece, such as the Bravo Sustainability Award 2022 in the “Ecosystem and Biodiversity Protection” category and the GOLD Environmental Award in the “Sustainable Agriculture” category.

Of course, our organization’s training also covers other themes of production optimization and emphasizes adopting practices to address climate change.

It should also be noted that many beekeepers have participated in other programs of our organization, such as the agri-food business acceleration program “Agroanélixis-Farmers of the Future” and “TrophyΤροφή,” through which they gained access to new business techniques, advisory support, and new networks of partners. Many of the businesses that participated in these programs are now healthy, outward-looking units.

The bee, with the honey it offers us and its pollination role, needs our protection. At New Agriculture New Generation, we know very well its role, which is why we will continue to be actively involved in the beekeeping sector.

The 5th consecutive year of the successful agri-food business acceleration program, “AgroAnelixi – Farmers of the Future,” has been announced by New Agriculture New Generation. This program targets cooperatives, processing units, businesses, producer groups, farmers, livestock farmers, beekeepers, and home-based enterprises that process or wish to process their production to create new differentiated products or further develop the products they already produce. Applications can be submitted until Sunday, June 2nd.

In this 6-month acceleration program, a total of 15 businesses will be selected to participate, including 5 from the Municipality of Servia, 4 from the Region of Crete, and the remaining 6 from across Greece.

The selected businesses will participate in educational workshops where they will receive practical business knowledge, insights, and guidance for creating new differentiated products. They will also receive personalized consulting support from experienced market professionals, tailored to their specific needs, at no financial cost.

To date, the program has supported 69 agri-food businesses from all over Greece. In addition to business training, guidance, and personalized consulting services, these businesses have received a total of €250,000 in financial support for the development of new services and products. Over 70 new food products have been developed and are currently available in the market with the contribution of the program.

The “AgroAnelixi” accelerator is implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation through the founding grant of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The participation from the Region of Crete is sponsored by Attica Bank, while the participation from the Municipality of Servia is sponsored by the Municipality of Servia.

The program supports agri-food businesses aiming to shape a new entrepreneurial mindset in the sector and the development of new differentiated food products through sustainable business efforts.

Application Submissions

The application period for the “AgroAnelixi – Farmers of the Future” acceleration program will last until Sunday, June 2nd. Interested parties can learn more about the eligibility criteria, terms, and conditions of the program and submit their applications online at www.agroanelixi.gr.