PRESS RELEASE

GAIA EPICHEIREIN, the most important supporting entity of Greek farmers and agri-cooperatives, providing policy support and innovation-based services, is organizing a workshop, which will take place on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 16.00 (Athens Local Time), focusing on “Food security challenges for sustainable food systems: CAP 2023-2027 tools, national approaches and best practices“.

In the European Green Deal era, the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027 is called upon to be fully aligned with the ambitious climate and environmental goals set at EU level by serving a holistic transition to more sustainable food systems, as expressed through the actions of the farm-to-fork strategy and the biodiversity strategy.

However, the agricultural sector is highly exposed to the effects of climate change while, in addition, volatile geopolitical factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine are further destabilizing the already fragile agricultural markets, raising issues of food security at national, European and global level.

The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027 aims clearly and provides support for the adaptation of the EU agricultural sector to climate change as well as for strengthening its resilience and competitiveness by leveraging, among other, knowledge and innovation related tools.

The workshop aims to inform producers and all interested parties in relation to food security and on CAP related objectives and tools as well as on actions that should be undertaken at EU and/or national level in light of the current circumstances and without jeopardizing the EU’s long-term commitments under the Green Deal.

Discussions will be further fueled by the outcomes of GAIA EPICHEIREIN’s new study entitled “Challenges in the production, trade and sovereignty of Greek Agriculture“, focusing on the state of play in the country’s food security by identifying vulnerable products and sectors.

The informative event is organized as part of the Information Measure CAP4Clima, implemented by GAIA EPICHEIREIN during 2022-2023 and supported by Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission.

Please register HERE and access the event platform for more information.

Programme

Friday, March 31, 2023

«Food security challenges for sustainable food systems: CAP 2023-2027 tools, national approaches and best practices»

16.00 – 16.15    Welcome speech by Christodoulos Antoniadis, President of GAIA EPICHEIREIN

16.15 – 16.35   Presentation of the outcomes of GAIA EPICHEIREIN’s study

 Elli Tsiforou, CEO | GAIA EPICHEIREIN

16.35 – 18.35   Panel Session

• Petros Angelopoulos, Policy Analyst | Unit for Policy perspectives, DG-AGRI, EC
• Patrick Pagani, Senior Policy Advisor | Copa-Cogeca
• Spyridon Kintzios, Rector | Agricultural University of Athens
• Dimitris Kapnias, Senior Manager, Large Scale Projects | NEUROPUBLIC
• George Katsoulis, President | Association of Agricultural Cooperative Organizations of Greece (SASOE)

18.35 – 19.00   Discussion

Moderation

Nikos Lappas, Director, agricultural newspaper Ypaithros Chora

Welcome speeches

Alexandros Kontos, Director General, SEKE | President, Syneteristiki Insurance | former Minister of Rural Development and Food

Vasilios Kokkalis, Member of Parliament for Syriza–Progressive Alliance (Larissa) | former Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food

Athanasios Petropoulos, former President, GEOTEE Dpt. | Sector of Rural Development and Food, PASOK – Movement for Change

Workshop’s languages

Greek (EL), English (EN)