BECOME A MEMBER – EN

Farmers and breeders, who are interested in upgrading their production, can take advantage of opportunities through their participation in the Agri-Food Partnership, such as:

1. Participation in the Partnership’s decisions regarding strategy planning
2. Training in modern technologies, methods, trends and perceptions/requirements to achieve high-quality competitive products
3. Technical and advisory support
4. Promotion of local agricultural products in domestic and foreign markets
5. Participation in actions to enhance the awareness of the agri-food products of the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, the goal being to increase the demand for their products
6. Participation in synergies between the agricultural and processing sector
7. Participation in programs for the preservation and promotion of local varieties and breeds.
8. Support the adoption of sustainable and environmentally friendly practices at the stage of cultivation and harvesting of products
9. Participation in research and preservation actions of the local rural heritage and the natural rural environment.
10. Information on improving the quality of the products produced
11. Advisory support and constant updating on issues regarding the development of rural entrepreneurship.
12. Participation in training programs for youth and unemployed in agricultural and breeding farms to introduce new professionals, and strengthen the business field.
13. Defining a single policy regarding obligations and requirements concerning the environment and society aiming at sustainable development (ESG criteria).

Food industries, that are or will become Members of the Agri-food, have the opportunity to participate in:

1. Promotion programs of locally produced agricultural products in domestic and foreign markets
2. Initiatives that will contribute to increasing the demand for the products in the “basket”
3. Programs offering technical and advisory support in the manufacturing sector 
4. Actions to support the creation of start-ups and innovative businesses in the agri-food sector.
5. Participation in exhibitions, at a preferential price 
6. B2B meetings
7. Actions to improve the awareness and consequently the demand for the agri-food products of the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace
8. Clusters for research and innovation
9. Actions to promote the competitive advantages of locality and gastronomic and cultural heritage
10. Actions to support their extroversion
11. Initiatives to create synergies between the agricultural and the processing sector
12. Co-funded projects, as a priority, as Members
13. Actions to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices at all stages of the production and processing of agri-food products
14. Promoting the history of important industrial businesses and recording their economic, social and environmental footprint
15. Consulting on corporate governance and defining a single policy on environmental and social issues with a view to the sustainable development of the food industry.

The participation of higher education institutions and research centers supports the connection between the needs of the real economy and the educational and research process. In this way, the following are achieved:

1. Strengthening of the relations between the educational and research system of the country with businesses, industry and the local economy in general
2. Develop the competencies, knowledge and skills necessary to face the challenges of the present and the future
3. Constant exchange of information, ideas and experiences between the three sides
4. Recording of real data that affect local development
5. Development of the local economy at a faster pace and by improvement of the qualitative characteristics
6. Bridging theory and practice, science and production, exploring forms of synergy at every level, highlighting their efficient relationship
7. Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the knowledge society
8. Improving methods of recording and mapping data, problems, and aspirations, for scientific processing, developing an integrated policy of synergy with the crop, industry and business sectors
9. Participation in European educational programs in connection with corresponding bodies and institutions abroad, aiming to create thematic seminars for training youth.

Bodies and chambers strengthen their goals and actions with their participation while at the same time achieving:

1. Contribution to the achievement of a massive and as representative as possible participation of farmers, breeders and entrepreneurs, as increased participation rates will lead to faster development results
2. Formulation of mechanisms that will complement the initiatives of other bodies (farmers, associations, private bodies, etc.).