Category: News

The seventh experiential weekend of the Agrifood Leadership program, the first specialized leadership program in Agri-Food implemented by the New Agriculture New Generation organization, has concluded.

The seventh educational weekend took place in Larissa from April 19 to 21, sponsored by the company ATH. KOUIMTZIS S.A. The Agrifood Leadership program aims to give participants the opportunity to become part of a community of leaders, network with established professionals in the Agri-Food sector, and discuss new trends in production, processing, and the supply chain.

During the weekend, participants gained valuable knowledge on selecting appropriate markets and distribution channels for their products or services, implementing targeted marketing, and enhancing their market presence, with training by Mr. Babbi Filadarli, Owner of Global Greece & Export Marketing Coach. They also visited Bee Zeus Apiculture, where they discussed with Beekeeper-Breeder Mr. Ioannis Senko, and ARELAND Nuts Company, where they conversed with Mr. George Tsinooulis, President & CEO.

The Agrifood Leadership program of the New Agriculture New Generation organization is the first specialized Leadership program in Agri-Food in Greece. It lasts 90 hours and includes 8 experiential weekends with training, systematic networking activities, site visits to decision-making centers in the agri-food sector, leadership role activities, and 2 online training sessions.

The program’s modules include basic concepts such as Leadership, Analytical Skills, Marketing Principles, Governance, Agricultural Economics and Policy, and more. The goal of the program is to empower tomorrow’s Leaders in the Agri-Food Sector to prioritize sustainability, technology, inclusivity, market orientation, collaboration, adaptability, and resilience.

The Agrifood Leadership program is implemented by the New Agriculture New Generation organization through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The technical and strategic advisor is Rutgers University, USA.

Sponsors of the Experiential Weekends include COMPO EXPERT, ATH. KOUIMTZIS S.A., Batsolakakis Meat School and DayGroup, the Chios Mastiha Growers Association, the Consortium of Cooperatives of Producers’ Groups of Imathia, and the Union of Messinia. Program sponsors are BAYER and COSMOCERT. The air transport sponsor is SKYEXPRESS. The program is under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

The conclusions from independent reports on the socioeconomic impact of the New Agriculture New Generation organization can be characterized as particularly satisfactory.

Specifically, in its 5 years of operation, the organization has supported more than 29,600 beneficiaries and professionals in the agri-food sector, with 86% of participants expressing complete satisfaction with their involvement in our programs, and 79% of beneficiaries improving their production processes.

Approximately one in three professionals and self-employed individuals who participated in these programs significantly improved their business efficiency and increased their profit margins.

The reports indicate, among other things, that every euro invested through New Agriculture New Generation generates 3.9 euros in the real economy.

These figures derive from the Independent Reports on Socioeconomic Impact Assessment and Performance Evaluation conducted by BDO and Deloitte, based on surveys, continuous measurements, personal interviews, and comparison of results.

Undoubtedly, the positive outcomes highlighted in these reports certify in the best possible way the work that New Agriculture New Generation has accomplished in recent years and serve as a guarantee for the organization’s future prospects.

You can read and download our 5 year Report here.

For the 4th consecutive year, the organization joins the Delphi Economic Forum as a Programming Partner, presenting, in collaboration with Rutgers University, a panel discussion on the skills that modern professionals in agriculture need to possess.

BEYOND THE FIELD – CULTIVATING THE RIGHT SKILLS FOR THE MODERN FARMER

|Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 19:50, Anemolia Hotel, Arachova|

A panel discussion focusing on the skills required by contemporary professionals in agriculture to address the challenges of the industry.

Participants include:

Effie Lazaridou: CEO, New Agriculture New Generation Erick Doyle: Owner, Readington River Buffalo Company | President, NJ State Board of Agriculture, USA Dimitris Voloudakis: Capacity Building Director, New Agriculture New Generation Miltiadis Charenes: Farmer of the Year 2023, American Farm School alumni Nikos Kyriakidis: Government Affairs Manager, South Europe Yara International

Coordinator: Lena Paraskeva, Journalist, Star Central Greece

New Agriculture New Generation supports the organization of the Delphi Economic Forum 2024 as a programming partner, in collaboration with Rutgers University.

The organization New Agriculture New Generation and BAYER Hellas announce the granting of three scholarships for attending the specialized and certified training program for exports of agrifood products AGRIFOOD EXPORTS 360°, with the aim of supporting young professionals engaged in export activities in the agrifood sector.

Specifically, BAYER Hellas provides two scholarships for executives of companies engaged in export activities or interested in exporting their products, as well as one scholarship for a company led by a woman, a female cooperative, or a business where the majority of employees are women, aiming to support female entrepreneurship.

For the scholarship targeting female professionals in agrifood, an open call will be announced to all interested candidates through the website of the organization New Agriculture New Generation, from March 20 to March 26. Interested parties can learn more about the program, eligibility criteria, and submit their application here.

AGRIFOOD EXPORTS 360° is the first specialized and certified professional training program in Greece for agrifood exports, implemented for the fifth consecutive year by the organization New Agriculture New Generation, through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The program serves as an effective tool for entrepreneurs, business executives, cooperatives, and producers who wish to effectively promote their products and services in foreign markets.

The agrifood sector now, more than ever, needs to ensure the effectiveness and success of its export businesses. A crucial link in the chain is the specialized human capital that can effectively staff export-oriented enterprises. The goal of this program is to provide participants with substantive and practical knowledge and skills, focusing on the most modern techniques in the field of agrifood product exports.

Through a comprehensive 66-hour online program, participants will gain substantive and practical knowledge and skills with an emphasis on product and technological requirements for exports, marketing strategies, market research, customer approach, and procedural requirements of the export process set by international markets.

Distinguished speakers, business executives, and academics from Greece as well as Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, with extensive professional and academic experience, will help expand the boundaries of your businesses and organizations, highlighting best practices and market examples.

Certified by ACTA – the Technological Education Institute of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a Quality Training Label, AGRIFOOD EXPORTS 360° is implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation, through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

The sponsors of AGRIFOOD EXPORTS 360° scholarships are the Region of Western Greece and BAYER Hellas. The program is under the auspices of SEV – Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, SEVT – Association of Greek Food Industries, the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Initiative OUR GREECE.

The organization New Agriculture New Generation and the Region of Western Greece announce the granting of six scholarships for attending the specialized and certified training program for exports of agrifood products AGRIFOOD EXPORTS 360°, aimed at supporting young professionals engaged in export activities in the agrifood sector.

Specifically, the Region of Western Greece provides six scholarships for executives of companies and professionals engaged in export activities or interested in exporting their products, based in Western Greece. Interested parties can learn more about the program, eligibility criteria, and submit their application until March 26 here.

AGRIFOOD EXPORTS 360° is the first specialized and certified professional training program in Greece for agrifood exports, implemented for the fifth consecutive year by the organization New Agriculture New Generation, through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The program serves as an effective tool for entrepreneurs, business executives, cooperatives, and producers who wish to effectively promote their products and services in foreign markets.

The agrifood sector now, more than ever, needs to ensure the effectiveness and success of its export businesses. A crucial link in the chain is the specialized human capital that can effectively staff export-oriented enterprises. The goal of this program is to provide participants with substantive and practical knowledge and skills, focusing on the most modern techniques in the field of agrifood product exports.

Through a comprehensive 66-hour online program, participants will gain substantive and practical knowledge and skills with an emphasis on product and technological requirements for exports, marketing strategies, market research, customer approach, and procedural requirements of the export process set by international markets.

Distinguished speakers, business executives, and academics from Greece as well as Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, with extensive professional and academic experience, will help expand the boundaries of your businesses and organizations, highlighting best practices and market examples.

Certified by ACTA – the Technological Education Institute of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a Quality Training Label, AGRIFOOD EXPORTS 360° is implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation, through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

The sponsors of AGRIFOOD EXPORTS 360° scholarships are the Region of Western Greece and BAYER Hellas. The program is under the auspices of SEV – Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, SEVT – Association of Greek Food Industries, the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Initiative OUR GREECE.

This visit took place from March 4th to 7th, 2024, within the framework of the first specialized leadership program in Agriculture and Food implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation.

Participants of the program visited decision-making centers in the agri-food sector at the European level and were exposed to international best practices in agriculture and food. They visited the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission, the permanent Greek Delegation to the European Union, as well as, as a good practice, the fruit and vegetable auction house Belorta and the organization Farmers at the crossroads.

The sponsor of the educational visit was SKY EXPRESS, the Greek airline.

The Agrifood Leadership program of the organization New Agriculture New Generation is the first specialized Leadership program in Agriculture in Greece. It lasts for 90 hours and includes 8 experiential three-day sessions with training, systematic networking actions, on-site visits to decision-making centers in the agri-food sector, leadership role-taking activities, as well as 2 online training sessions. The program’s units include, among others, basic concepts such as Leadership, Analytical Skills, Marketing Principles, Governance, Agricultural Economics, and Policy. The goal of the program is to empower future Leaders of the Agriculture and Food Sector to prioritize sustainability, technology, market orientation, cooperation, 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). Technical and Strategic Advisor is Rutgers University, USA.

The Experiential Three-Day sponsors are the companies COMPO EXPERT, KOUIMTZIS Group, Batsolakis Meat School, and DayGroup, the Union of Chios Mastic Growers, the Consortium of Producer Groups of Imathia, and the Union of Messinia. The Program sponsor is the company BAYER. The Program and Certification sponsor is COSMOCERT. The airline sponsor is SKY EXPRESS, the Greek airline. The program is under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

The next educational visit of the Agrifood Leadership will take place in Brussels between March 4th and 7th, 2024, sponsored by the airline SKY EXPRESS.

The fifth experiential three-day session of the Agrifood Leadership program, the first specialized leadership program in Agriculture and Food implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation, was successfully held in Kalamata from February 23rd to 25th. The sponsor for this session was the Union of Messinia. The goal of the Agrifood Leadership program is to provide participants with the opportunity to become part of a community of leaders, network with accomplished professionals in the field of Agriculture and Food, and discuss new trends in production, processing, and the supply chain.

With Anastasia Sarchosoglou, Agronomist, Food Technologist, and Adult Trainer, as the facilitator, participants formed effective teams, focusing on selecting the right people who combine unique skills and attributes to achieve common goals. Recognizing the difference between management and leadership, they were equipped with the necessary knowledge to guide the team towards the right outcome, enhancing cohesion through empathy, social skills, and effective communication. Additionally, they developed decision-making and crisis management skills, ensuring that each member contributes positively to the team.

Participants of the program had the opportunity to visit the Anagnostopoulos olive press and observe the process of olive oil production and standardization. They also discussed with trainers from the Kalamata Olive and Olive Oil School about the export of Kalamata olive oil to the global market.

The sponsor of the three-day session was the Union of Messinia. We would like to thank Evangelos Xygkoros, President of the Messinia Chamber of Commerce, for his contribution to the organization of this specific training.

The Agrifood Leadership program of the organization New Agriculture New Generation is the first specialized Leadership program in Agriculture in Greece. It lasts for 90 hours and includes 8 experiential three-day sessions with training, systematic networking actions, on-site visits to decision-making centers in the agri-food sector, leadership role-taking activities, as well as 2 online training sessions. The program’s units include, among others, basic concepts such as Leadership, Analytical Skills, Marketing Principles, Governance, Agricultural Economics, and Policy. The goal of the program is to empower future Leaders of the Agriculture and Food Sector to prioritize sustainability, technology, market orientation, cooperation, 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). Technical and Strategic Advisor is Rutgers University, USA.

The Experiential Three-Day sponsors are the companies COMPO EXPERT, KOUIMTZIS Group, Batsolakis Meat School, and DayGroup, the Union of Chios Mastic Growers, the Consortium of Producer Groups of Imathia, and the Union of Messinia. The Program sponsor is the company BAYER. The Program and Certification sponsor is COSMOCERT. The airline sponsor is SKY EXPRESS, the Greek airline. The program is under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

The next educational visit of the Agrifood Leadership will take place in Brussels between March 4th and 7th, 2024, sponsored by the airline SKY EXPRESS.

The organization “New Agriculture New Generation” announces the support from the Region of Thessaly for the action “Restart of Beekeeping in Thessaly”, which has been active since January 27, 2024, and consists of two different support programs for beekeepers in Thessaly.

The first of the two programs of the action concerns the training on “Natural Disasters: Protection and Replenishment of Beekeeping Capital”, which is free and targets all beekeepers in Thessaly, aiming to improve beekeeping practices and overall hive health, focusing on addressing the impacts of climate change and natural disasters. In collaboration with specialized scientists, high value-added knowledge and practices are provided to enhance bee resilience and prepare beekeepers to better face future challenges.

In the coming two months, 10 educational meetings are planned in 10 different municipalities of Thessaly, aiming to support more than 300 beekeepers with better knowledge and skills in hive management. The training will be conducted in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens and Associate Professor George Gkoras, Mr. Alexandros Gkousiaris, beekeeper and beekeeping trainer, and Mr. Dimitris Voloudakis and Mrs. Kalliopi Karampoiki from the organization “New Agriculture New Generation”.

The second program of the action titled “Queen Rearing: Replenishment and Conservation of Endemic Genetic Material”, which is expected to be implemented between March and September 2024, will provide support to at least 300 affected professional beekeepers in Thessaly, by supplying 27,000 queen cells.

The support from the Region of Thessaly ensures, among other things, the expansion of the beneficiaries’ training process, the organization of an informative seminar, and the provision of venues for the training sessions. Additionally, it contributes to maximizing the number of cells to be provided to the affected beekeepers.

The two programs of the action will contribute to the restoration of the damages caused by “Daniel” and will create conditions for the future strengthening of the beekeeping sector in Thessaly.

Immediately after the meeting, Ms. Effie Lazaridou, Managing Director of the organization “New Agriculture New Generation,” stated:

“It is a special joy and honor for us to have the trust of the Region of Thessaly, through the adoption of the significant initiative we are taking for the recovery of beekeeping after the devastating phenomenon of ‘Daniel’. I am confident that this cooperation will optimize the results of the initiative. With the help of the Region, we maximize the number of queen cells to be delivered to professional beekeepers, expand training activities, and we are planning to organize a relevant seminar for the beekeeping sector and its future.”

On his part, the Regional Governor, Mr. Dimitris Kouretas, reiterated the Region of Thessaly’s interest in beekeeping. “Both as a regional governor and as a scientist, I have a great interest in beekeeping, considering it a crucial factor in the primary and agri-food sector. We have already taken initiatives to ensure the authenticity of honey, and now we support the restart of beekeeping with two programs that will significantly strengthen the sector.”

The programs are co-financed by the organization “New Agriculture New Generation” through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, and the company APIVITA.

Climate change is a global issue that endangers the environment and all forms of life on Earth. Consequently, there is a growing need for pioneering initiatives and a common intervention framework to address this issue.

According to the 2021 Eurobarometer, one in five Europeans considers the ecological footprint of the food they buy and adjusts their shopping accordingly. This indicates an increasing trend among consumers to choose food that is carbon-neutral.

The Carbon Farming Awareness Hub (CarboFarmHub) is an Erasmus+ initiative co-funded by the European Commission. The project focuses on increasing awareness and skills, especially among young citizens and farmers, to prepare them for the new challenges arising from the growing demand for sustainable food systems, particularly in Europe, through initiatives like the Green Deal, the Farm2Fork strategy, and the Soil Mission to reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural products.

The project aims to create a network of awareness centers in four countries: Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The project coordinator is Nea Geogia Nea Genia (NeAGen) from Greece. The project partners include the non-governmental organization Academy of Entrepreneurship (AKEP) and the research institute Theophrastus from Greece, Ecovalia from Spain, Agrobio from Portugal, and the educational center Centoform from Italy.

The first annual meeting of the Carbon Farming Awareness Hub (CarboFarmHub) took place in Athens on January 25th and 26th, where all partners gathered to discuss and organize current and future activities for the next 2 years. The second day was dedicated to the 1st workshop meeting, opened by Dr. Dimitris Voloudakis, Capacity Building Director of Nea Geogia Nea Genia, who welcomed the participants, set the workshop’s framework, and presented the Carbon Farming Hub project. Then, Prof. Ioannis Botetzagias from the University of the Aegean and member of the Theophrastus research institute gave a presentation titled: “Agricultural Activity for Carbon in the EU: Prospects and Challenges,” which provided a detailed overview of the current situation of agricultural activity for carbon sequestration in Europe and highlighted opportunities mainly for farmers, as well as the risks of greenwashing. In the second presentation, titled “Applications of Circular Economy in Agriculture,” Associate Professor George Vlachos from the Agricultural University of Athens reminded us that although many farmers already implement good practices, there are greater opportunities regarding carbon sequestration. In the last presentation titled “Calculation of CO2 Emissions in Forest Ecosystems,” Associate Professor Nikos Fyllas from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens presented the methodologies of carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems in Greece and discussed the various results that emerged from different methods.

The organizers encouraged all participants to follow the project and collaborate to adopt sustainable soil cultivation practices for current and future generations.

CarboFarmHub Website

CarboFarmHub Facebook

CarboFarmHub LinkedIn

The organization New Agriculture New Generation announces the start of a free training program on the topic “Natural Disasters: Protection and Restoration of Beekeeping Capital.” The program is addressed to all beekeepers in Thessaly and is implemented within the framework of the action “Restart of Beekeeping in Thessaly,” which started on Saturday, January 27, 2024, with the informative event held at the Regional Council Hall in Larissa.

As it is a fact that climate change and extreme weather conditions will continue to affect our daily lives in the coming years, the new training program of the organization New Agriculture New Generation aims to improve beekeeping practices and the overall health of bee colonies. The goal is to enhance the resilience of bee colonies and reduce the impacts of climate change by transferring knowledge and practices from specialized scientists.

Specifically, in the next two months, 10 educational meetings will be held in 10 different Municipalities of Thessaly, even in remote areas, aiming to support more than 300 beekeepers with knowledge and skills that will help them be better prepared to face the imminent challenges of climate change by taking measures to address the impacts of natural disasters and measures for proper bee management.

The above-mentioned training sessions will be implemented in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens and Associate Professor Mr. George Gora, Mr. Alexandros Gousiaris, beekeeper, beekeeping trainer, and Mr. Dimitris Voloudakis and Kalliopi Karampoiki from the organization New Agriculture New Generation.

Co-financed by the organization New Agriculture New Generation through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, and the company APIVITA.

For the provision of the venues for the first three trainings, we thank the Region of Thessaly, the Municipality of Elassona, and the Agricultural Cooperative of Farsala, “ENIPEAS.”

The organization New Agriculture New Generation aims to contribute to the reconstruction of the beekeeping sector and support beekeepers in Thessaly following the floods caused by the phenomenon “Daniel.” Having already successfully implemented the training program “Apiculture: Exploitation, rescue, and improvement of bee genetic material” in the areas of Thessaly and Evia in the last two years, for the transformation of the beekeeping sector in Greece by developing more resilient and productive bee colonies through the optimization of indigenous genetic material.

The action “Restart of Beekeeping in Thessaly” also includes the new program “Apiculture: Replacement and rescue of indigenous genetic material.” This program, which is expected to be implemented between March and September 2024, will provide support to 300 affected professional beekeepers in Thessaly by providing 20,000 royal 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.

Ms. Efi Lazaridou, CEO of the organization NEA Agriculture New Generation, emphasized at the opening event that: “Thessaly is the largest beekeeping region, where 12% of the active beekeepers in the country are active, while many producers with other types of main exploitations also engage in beekeeping activities. “Daniel” caused serious damage to 40% of Thessalonian beekeepers, with a total loss of 112,000 beehives. It becomes clear, therefore, that supporting beekeeping is a prerequisite for the rapid reconstruction, overall, of agricultural production and the economic activity of the countryside.”

In a brief greeting addressed to the event, the Regional Governor of Thessaly, Mr. Dimitris Kouretas, emphasized that the beekeeping sector suffered a serious blow from “Daniel,” expressing his full support for the program “Restart of Beekeeping in Thessaly,” which will help beekeepers to face future challenges brought by climate change. “Let this disaster be an opportunity for us to start thinking about how to create resilient societies. My goal is to help Thessaly develop. We will support this effort because it must continue,” Mr. Kouretas said among other things.

“The modern challenges posed by climate change, notably addressing the impacts of natural disasters, require the mobilization of the forces of the State, Civil Society, philanthropic institutions, and private initiative with a view to upgrading preparedness at the local level through actions that promote social innovation and sustainable development. In this context, we support the new collaborative initiative of the New Agriculture New Generation organization, hoping that it will contribute to improving the resilience of the local beekeeping community in Thessaly, while also recommending a good practice for promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural practices,” said Ms. Eva Lianou, General Manager, John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.

“For APIVITA, supporting the “Restart of Beekeeping in Thessaly” Program is fully aligned with our commitment to substantive social and environmental actions, within the framework of our participation in the 1% for the Planet Organization. Our cooperation with New Agriculture New Generation, for the second consecutive year, is of strategic importance, as it represents yet another link in the value chain created through the Billion Bees Program,” said Mr. Sotiris Pastras, Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Manager, APIVITA.”