The new year begins, bringing with it Hope, Optimism, and our Commitment to a sustainable future for agrifood, rural communities, the environment, and the planet.
On a global scale, critical issues surrounding food systems remain at the forefront of public discourse and policy decisions due to the impacts of the climate crisis, the need for food security, and the transformations brought about by the advent of Artificial Intelligence.
The UN’s World Food Forum last October in Rome, under the theme “Good food for all, for today and tomorrow,” highlighted the need for expanded collaborations to transition towards more resilient, sustainable food systems. Education, support for rural communities, and investments in innovation are fundamental elements in the bold pursuit of a new balance between agroecology and large-scale industrial production, ensuring food security and the survival of vulnerable populations.
From another perspective, but also in search of direction in our uncertain world, the recently published “Future of Work Report, January 2025” by the World Economic Forum outlines the trends shaping entrepreneurship and the job market in the coming years. Key drivers include artificial intelligence and its application both at an individual professional and corporate level, as well as the utilization of robotics and autonomous systems, which are gaining significant traction in the agrifood sector. The demand for frontline manual labor, both in primary production and food processing, is expected to see some of the largest increases in absolute numbers over the coming years. These findings should fuel reflection, as well as ambitious decisions at both national and European levels.
Of course, the start of a new year is always a milestone for reflecting on the legacy left by the previous one. For our organization, Νέα Γεωργία Νέα Γενιά (New Agriculture New Generation), 2024 was filled with challenges, changes, successes, and recognition. With a strategy focused on outward engagement, we enhanced our role and strengthened our presence both in Greece and internationally. Most importantly, we created a meaningful, tangible impact on the lives of thousands of rural people and their communities, not only in Greece but also across the broader Mediterranean region.
A Year of Recognition and Achievements
Some of the most outstanding moments of the year included the broad recognition of our work, marked by our award from The Hellenic Initiative, the leading institution of the Greek diaspora, during its 8th annual gala in London. Additionally, we were invited by the Consulate General of Greece in New York to present our work to the Greek-American community.
Equally significant was our recognition for the second time as a European Best Practice by the DG Agri, acknowledging our role in transferring knowledge and promoting lifelong learning in the primary sector as part of the EU CAP Network conference “Skills and lifelong learning for agricultural advisory and training service providers.”
The year also brought major developments in our programmatic actions, with new flagship international collaborations. A key success was the completion of the international program “Promoting Small-Scale Aquaculture Sustainability in Southeast Mediterranean”, in partnership with the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, and with the support of ELOPY and PASTI. This initiative supported the sustainability of small-scale aquaculture producers from countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia through training and the exchange of best practices.
Another particularly encouraging milestone was the launch of the “Social Farming 360” program in 2024, where we were selected as one of just 50 organizations worldwide (out of thousands of applicants) in the 1st Global Innovation Challenge of the Citi Foundation. This successful collaboration is now continuing into the 2nd Global Innovation Challenge in partnership with PRAKSIS.
A critical part of our work was also our emergency intervention programs, such as the Emergency Relief initiative, which supported the recovery of beekeeping in Thessaly following the devastating Daniel storm.
At the same time, we continued efforts to support Greek agrifood, including the Olive Oil Academy, the Poultry Farming Academy, beekeeping initiatives, and programs that strengthen small food processing businesses and family-run operations. TrophyΤροφή has now become an established institution for agrifood entrepreneurship, while the Agrifood Leadership program offers strategic training for industry professionals.
Our programs have received further recognition, including awards at the Bravo Sustainability Dialogue & Awards 2024, where we won in the “Protection of Biodiversity” category for our program “Mastic Trees: Securing the Future of a National Product – A Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Network in Chios.” Additionally, we were shortlisted for the global “Local Adaptation Champions Awards” by the Global Center of Adaptation. Personally, I had the honor of being named NGO Manager of the Year 2024, an achievement that reflects our collective dedication and the substantial impact we are making in the ecosystem.
Our participation in high-profile international forums was also crucial, including the 9th Our Ocean Conference, the IX Delphi Economic Forum, the Regional Aquaculture Conference for the Mediterranean and Black Sea (organized by the FAO’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean), and leading conferences in Greece such as the 22nd Corporate Responsibility Conference (“The Pale Blue Dot”), the Regional Growth Conference, Agrown, as well as major exhibitions such as the 88th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) and Agrotica.
Looking Forward to 2025
None of these achievements would have been possible without the talent and dedication of our team members and the unwavering support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation through its founding donation, as well as the trust and contributions of our numerous supporters and sponsors, whom I sincerely thank. The members of our General Assembly, our Advisory Committee, and our valued partners, particularly at the School of Environmental and Biological Studies at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, with whom we have maintained a strategic partnership since our establishment, have also played a vital role in our success.
The year 2024 has set the bar high for 2025. Guided by optimism, collaboration, and our commitment to transforming the agrifood sector, we move forward with the goal of even greater achievements for the growth of the ecosystem and the prosperity of rural areas.
Effie Lazaridou, CEO, NANG
