In partnership with the American Farm School and CERTH, the Bodossaki Foundation has set up a thematic fund to support individual farmers, small businesses and cooperatives active in the production of five flagship Greek agricultural product categories: olives and olive products, honey, animal products, fruits and vegetables (specifically Florina pepper, beans and chestnut) and aromatic plants.
• Who can benefit
Direct beneficiaries of this fund will be individual farmers, small businesses and cooperatives, new and existing exporters and traders, living in different regions of Greece. Direct beneficiaries have been selected by the program’s partners, as the program’s aim is to include farmers that have both a great need and a great potential to excel in their respective fields, if the right tools are provided to them. Selected beneficiaries can turn the proposed paradigm shift into a reality for the agricultural sector in Greece.
• What the program involves
A two-tiered approach will be implemented to support the production, processing and exporting of five flagship product categories: olives and olive products, honey, fruits and vegetables, aromatic plants and products of animal origin. The products have been selected due to their unique characteristics and their global market potential. The fund’s purpose is to support the following activities:
1. Training and consulting of individual farmers, small businesses and cooperatives on everything from sowing the seeds to marketing and exports. Support will be both in the form of classroom-based training as well as on-site consulting, thus forming a holistic approach.
2. Biotechnological research for the identification and showcasing of the unique characteristics of agro-food products in order to improve their positioning in the global market. The outputs of this tier will be openly available so that they benefit the entire sector.
This approach has been adapted to the specific needs of each of the five product categories and their corresponding markets through the design of five separate projects. The approach has been designed to address the entire value chain of each product, from production to the sale of the final product in international market.
• Geographic areas
The program will be implemented regionally. We have identified specific geographic areas for each of the five products, aiming to achieve the best results possible in terms of economic and social impact. However, the program is flexible and can respond to the wishes of donors who may want to support an area close to their heart. In the case of certain products such as the Florina pepper that are cultivated in specific areas, the project will be implemented accordingly.
Our partners
To realize this project, the Bodossaki Foundation has joined forces with the American Farm School, an independent, nonprofit educational institution and a pioneer in rural development and the Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB) at the Center for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) in Thessaloniki, one of the leading research Institutes in Europe.
We have created a team that consists of experts from both the American Farm School and the Institute of Applied Biosciences and experienced program officers from the Bodossaki Foundation, in order to ensure the successful implementation of the projects, the maximization of their social impact and the handling of funds with due diligence.
The American Farm School of Thessaloniki, Greece (www.afs.edu.gr) is the premier institution in southeastern Europe for education and applied research in agriculture, food systems, environmental studies and other life sciences related to our sustainable future. Founded in 1904 as an independent, nonprofit organization by enlightened American educators, the School continues to apply its hallmark “learn by doing” approach to educate students of all ages. Divisions include the Elementary School; High School; Perrotis College of Agriculture, Environment and Life Sciences; and School of Professional Education. Education, training and consulting services offered to adults aim at developing innovative professionals and entrepreneurs for Greece’s agrofood sectors.
The Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas (CERTH) is a legal entity governed by private law with non-profit status. CERTH has 5 Research Institutes with important scientific and technological achievements in many areas including: Energy, Environment, Industry, Mechatronics, Information & Communication, Transportation & Sustainable Mobility, Health, Agro-biotechnology, Smart farming, Safety & Security, as well as several cross-disciplinary scientific areas. CERTH has participated successfully in more than 1.000 competitive research projects financed by National and European Union (EU) funds and leading industries from USA, Japan and Europe. The Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB) at CERTH is the leading institution in Greece in the field of Applied Biotechnology. INAB is involved in the development and use of biotechnological applications benefiting of the current advances in the field with emphasis on functional genomics, molecular engineering and big bio-data analytics in the production of improved plant and animal genetic and propagation material, aiming to provide solutions in important cultivation, rearing, food processing and agro-industrial problems.
