How strong development prospects start from within the olive groves
The interest of young people in Crete to work in the primary sector is increasing. Their allies, new technologies and new investment programs that can make a catalytic contribution to ensuring and enhancing the quality of our island's agricultural products.
Interest in investing in the agri-food sector is growing. In the discussion is the coupling of the Cretan diet with tourism and the forging of a strong and special branding for our island, which will be a pole of attraction for even more tourists.
The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on the other hand, as a useful tool, comes to support producers, to buy new equipment and proceed with the restructuring of their crops, following the new trends that appear.
The conquest of a leading position in the global agri-food market can also begin through the olive groves of our island.
The conditions for achieving the aforementioned goals are analyzed today in "R.N." Mr. Nikos Bounakis, MSc MBA, president and CEO of Proactive AE., academic associate of the Department of Agriculture, ELMEPA.
Leading position through the olive grove
"To achieve some goals in the market, you should start from the field: From the quality of the product you produce, from how it is produced, with which processes" says Mr. Bounakis, and explains: "On the one hand, you should we introduce new technologies into our cultivation process, in order to reduce costs and increase the productivity of the olive groves. On the other hand, let's monitor some standards related to the protection of the environment, because climate change is a problem and we also have to do our part to make sure that we don't put an additional burden on the environment with cultivation."
The modern consumer is very aware of issues related to the environment and climate change, "So he prefers products whose production method is environmentally friendly" he states and continues: "For these reasons it is necessary to introduce new technologies, which we already apply to several groups of producers. The processes that have to do with the recording of meteorological data, humidity, temperature, in order to be able to predict – in combination with other elements such as the condition of the soil, its chemical and mechanical composition, when to irrigate and with what quantities, so as not to overconsumption of water".
Another crucial part is the utilization of the liquid waste of the oil mills, "In order not to pollute the environment and integrate it back into the soil to reduce the cost of buying chemical fertilizers. We can do the same with the organic substance, such as the leaves and branches, which come from the processing - the pruning of the olive tree. Instead of burning them and again burdening the environment with carbon dioxide, we can, after passing them through a treatment, integrate them into the soil, with the aim of increasing their organic matter" points out Mr. Bounakis.
In order to deal with the weevil, starting this year, the application of a pioneering method, which is an element of intelligent agriculture, is being attempted. It has to do with an "electronic trap" that informs in real time about the progress of the field, "so that we don't turn all the plots. We save time and have a more valid fight against the dako" explains the president and CEO of Proactive AE.
"It is good to now produce products that are climate neutral" he will emphasize. "That is, to be able to measure the footprint at each stage of the production process, in order to reduce - from the moment we measure it - the pollution produced by olive cultivation and to have climate neutral products - the production of which does not burden additional pollution the environment. These are all integrated programs that enter the phase of precision agriculture, integrated crop management. And they aim to increase the competitiveness of the olive growing sector, protect the environment and reduce production costs, in order to have what we call a competitive and quality product, which we will be able to give to the market".
Back to earth
The strong tendency of young people to deal with the land and the primary sector can only "give birth" to optimism.
The winners of the Young Farmers Program were recently announced. Several are also from Crete.
"On our island we always see a special interest in all the investment programs related to the agricultural sector" observes Mr. Bounakis and adds: "Because we also have many runners-up, i.e. many investment projects which were sufficient, but not the money has arrived so that these young farmers can also be subsidized, there is a request – and I consider the
what is the probability that it will be accepted by the state – to increase the budget, so that as many farmers as possible come in”.
One of the big problems, after all, that our agricultural economy has is that a significant number of our producers are old, with all that this entails for the difficulty of integrating new knowledge and new technologies into agricultural production.
"It is very difficult for a farmer who has learned for many decades to apply specific cultivation techniques, in the west of his productive activity to change, while it is easier for young people. Many of these young children also have an education on the issues of agricultural production. It is easier for them to use the new technologies from the beginning which will help them increase the competitiveness of their agricultural holding" comments Mr. Bounakis.
The connection of primary sector - tourism
As tourism will flourish, returning to normal - pre-covid- levels, the voices that speak about the need to further connect the agri-food sector with the heaviest economic industry of our country are also increasing.
"It is a discussion that has been going on for many years. Several steps have been taken both by hoteliers and by organizations representing farmers, but also by the state and especially by the Region with the creation of the Agri-Food Partnership. A lot of things still need to be done" the academic partner of the ELMEPA Department of Agriculture supports.
"Agricultural businesses, the vast majority of which are small and medium-sized, must modernize their production process in order to be able to supply hotel units with the products they need all year round. Moreover, the hoteliers have not yet realized that it is an element of differentiation, especially the Cretan diet, which has a worldwide reputation for its beneficial properties - beyond the part of gastronomy and our very interesting cuisine. Therefore, we have a long way to go, despite the steps that have been taken, to establish the Cretan diet in global gastronomy - to take the place it deserves" concludes Mr. Bounakis.
Strengthening regional development
The new CAP offers opportunities, even though it was designed at a time when the current problems created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine did not exist, with the main issue being the food crisis, a risk that the president and CEO of PROACTIVE AE points to, predicting how "it will intensified (the issue of food sufficiency) because it is used as a tool of geopolitical pressure”.
For him, it is necessary to re-discuss various issues and further strengthen our farmers and breeders, because the cost of production has risen significantly. Produced products are significantly reduced, which results in food shortages. "And whatever food is on the market will be at much higher prices. So, the average consumer will be under even more pressure," emphasizes Mr. Bounakis.
Before the crisis, the new CAP provided important tools and significant financing in the direction of promoting quality agriculture, protecting the environment, protecting biodiversity and increasing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector.
"The Common Agricultural Policy is a useful tool, because a significant part of agricultural income comes from both direct support (subsidies) and from Pillar 2, which is in the investment projects that help modernize agricultural holdings: They help producers to buy new equipment and to proceed with the restructuring of their crops, following the new trends that appear" points out the president & CEO of Proactive AE.
For the next five years our country has secured a significant amount, 20 billion, which means that about two billion will come only from the CAP in the agri-food sector plus other money that will come from the development law for investments and also from the Recovery Fund.
