The event on the New Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2028–2034 and the role of Regions in its design and implementation was successfully held in Patras, with significant attendance. The event was co-organized by the Region of Western Greece and New Agriculture New Generation.
The event brought together representatives of the national government, the European Commission, local and regional authorities, academia, and the agri-food sector, confirming the strong interest in the upcoming programming period and the challenges it entails.
During the presentations and the open consultation session, it was highlighted that the New CAP 2028–2034 constitutes a critical mechanism for transitioning towards a more sustainable, resilient, and knowledge-driven production model. Particular emphasis was placed on increased environmental requirements, the need for the economic viability of farming operations, and the strengthened role of the Region in national strategic planning.
Intervention by Effie Lazaridou and the Contribution Framework of New Agriculture New Generation
In her remarks, Effie Lazaridou, CEO of New Agriculture New Generation, underlined that the success of the new CAP in Western Greece will depend on:
• institutional cooperation between the Region, universities, and producers,
• technical capacity and the dissemination of applied knowledge,
• and the existence of effective coordination mechanisms linking research with practice.
The organization presented the framework of its contribution to the new period, structured around three main pillars:
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Applied education and training tailored to the needs of producers and regional sectors.
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Linking research, policy, and production through pilot initiatives and collaborative schemes.
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Entrepreneurial empowerment of small and medium-sized farms through management tools, cooperation models, and market access support.
Ms. Lazaridou stated:
“As New Agriculture New Generation, we are ready to contribute systematically:
• by fostering connections between local authorities, universities, and producers,
• through educational programs tailored to regional needs,
• by providing entrepreneurial support to the new generation of farmers and agri-businesses,
• by establishing platforms for dialogue and cooperation,
• and through pilot interventions that can serve as scalable implementation models.
It is, after all, the core role of civil society to implement pilot actions, measure their value, document their results, and subsequently deliver them to the State and competent institutional bodies so that they may adopt and scale them.”
Institutional Greetings and Key Presentations
Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Nektarios Farmakis, Regional Governor of Western Greece; Mr. Andreas Kastaniotis, Member of Parliament (New Democracy) and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Mr. Nikolaos Kakavas, President of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Geotechnical Employees.
Presentations were delivered by Mr. Antonios Filippis, Secretary General of the General Secretariat for Agricultural Policy and International Relations at the Ministry of Rural Development and Food; Mr. Spyridon Papaspyrou, Head of the Directorate of Agricultural Economy of the Region of Western Greece; Mr. Menelaos Gardikiotis, President of the Board of the Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (GEOTEE); Mr. Nikos Kalinis, Programme Director for the Greek CAP Strategic Plan (2023–2027), Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission; and Mr. Efthathios Klonaris, Professor at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Development of the Agricultural University of Athens.
A Shared Conclusion: From Measure Management to a Resilient Regional Agri-Food Ecosystem
Participants commonly agreed that the New CAP represents an opportunity to move from the management of individual measures to the development of a comprehensive regional agri-food ecosystem characterized by resilience, competitiveness, and meaningful support for rural communities.
New Agriculture New Generation reaffirms its commitment to systematically contribute, through evidence-based approaches and collaboration, to the design and implementation of policies that strengthen the sustainable development of Greek agri-food systems.
