New Agriculture New Generation announces the event titled “Cultivating the Future of Mastic: Education, Research, and Innovation,” which will take place on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 18:00, at the Homerion Cultural Center of the Municipality of Chios.
The event is organized as part of the program “Mastic Trees: Ensuring the Future of a National Product – Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Network in Chios,” which aims to ensure the sustainability, protection and promotion of mastiha cultivation on the island.
The program is designed and implemented in collaboration with the Laboratory of Floriculture, Department of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association, under the scientific coordination of Associate Professor Mr. Stefanos Chatzilazarou.
It is co-funded by New Agriculture New Generation through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), The Hellenic Initiative and the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association.
To date, the program has trained more than 240 mastiha growers through the first organized network for knowledge transfer and innovation in Chios and continues its strong course by promoting knowledge exchange, empowering growers and fostering the sustainable development of local production.
The event will bring together scientists, growers and stakeholders, aiming to present the progress and future of the program, highlight best practices and discuss the modern prospects of mastic cultivation through the use of research, innovation and precision agriculture tools.
For more information, please visit: https://newagri.org/en/lines-of-action/mastichodentra-diasfalizontas-to-mellon-enos-ethnikou-proiontos/
Event Program
18:00–18:30 | Arrival of participants
18:30–18:50 | Welcome Remarks
- George Toumbos, President of the Board, Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association
- Elina Klaridopoulou, Senior Program Officer, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
- Michael G. Psaros, THI Vice Chair of the Board
- Michael Printzos,, Country Head, The Hellenic Initiative, Greece
- Effie Lazaridou, CEO, New Agriculture New Generation
18:50–19:20 | Presentation: Overview of the program’s implementation to date
- Stefanos Chatzilazarou, Associate Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Stefanos Kostas, PhD, Special Teaching Staff, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Laboratory of Floriculture
19:20–20:00 | Panel Discussion: Experiences from the network and the benefits of knowledge transfer from producer to producer
- Despina Kyli, Lead Mastiha Grower
- Alexis Tsounakos, Lead Mastiha Grower
Moderator: Sotiris Katselos, Communications Director, New Agriculture New Generation
20:00–20:45 | Presentation: Digital agriculture: Applications, challenges and prospects
- Spyros Fountas, Professor of Precision Agriculture, Agricultural University of Athens
- Michalis Asimoglou, Electrical Engineer
20:45–21:00 | Q&A Session
