With great pleasure, New Agriculture New Generation announces yet another significant distinction, having been awarded at the Bravo Sustainability Dialogue & Awards 2024 in the “Environment” pillar and the “Protection of Biodiversity” category for the program “Mastic Trees: Securing the Future of a National Product – Knowledge and Innovation Transfer Network in Chios.” This program contributes to improving the production of an important traditional product.
The award ceremony took place on Monday, December 2, 2024, in the Ceremony Hall of the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in Athens.
The award-winning, innovative program “Mastic Trees: Securing the Future of a National Product – Knowledge and Innovation Transfer Network in Chios” is designed and implemented in collaboration with the Laboratory of Floriculture of the Department of Agriculture at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Chios Mastiha Growers Association.
The program is co-financed by New Agriculture New Generation through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and the Chios Mastiha Growers Association. It aims at the sustainable development of mastiha cultivation by establishing local knowledge-sharing communities and best practices across the 24 Mastiha villages, utilizing tools such as Train-the-Trainer and Farmer-to-Farmer Learning. The initiative builds on the success of the previous project, “Mastic Trees: Modern Propagation and Cultivation Techniques,” which ran from October 2021 to May 2023 and benefited 200 mastiha growers.
The award was received on behalf of New Agriculture New Generation by Mr. Antonis Papadopoulos, Entrepreneurship Development Director. Also in attendance were Ms. Archontou Antonatou, Fundraising Manager of the organization; Mr. Ilias Smyrnioudis, General Manager – Head of Research and Development of the Chios Mastiha Growers Association; Mr. Stefanos Chatzilazarou, Associate Professor at the Laboratory of Floriculture of the Department of Agriculture at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; and Dr. Kostas Stefanos, E.DI.P. of the same university.
Beyond skill development, the award-winning program promotes the creation of a network for the transfer and exchange of knowledge and experiences, in collaboration with the Chios Mastiha Growers Association. Its goal is to improve cultivation techniques and enhance productivity. This award recognizes the importance of preserving and strengthening a national treasure, Chios Mastiha, ensuring its future through innovation and collaboration.
The scientific team behind the award-winning project includes experienced university professors, led by Associate Professor Mr. Stefanos Chatzilazarou.
Participation in the program remains open, aiming for the continuous empowerment of the local mastiha-growing community.
