How can an olive grower know in real time when their grove needs irrigation? How is sheep wool transformed into a soil-improving material? These were some of the questions MACC answered at the FILAIOS conference on November 16, 2025, held within the FOOD & DRINKS exhibition in Thessaloniki.
From Theory to Practice
Dr. Vicky Krystallidou, Head of the Innovation & Strategy Hub at MACC, did not speak about visions. She presented solutions that already work.
The smart agriculture system currently in pilot implementation is not just another technological tool. It gives producers data that truly make a difference: when to irrigate, how to protect the crop, where to intervene. In real time.
The biodegradable soil-improving material made from sheep wool is the very definition of circular economy in practice: you take a residue that would otherwise go unused and turn it into a product that enhances soil quality.
What This Means for the Sector
In the same discussion, Dr. Kiki Zinoviadou from the American Farm School spoke about artificial intelligence and sensors. Konstantinos Tertivanidis from the Region of Central Macedonia discussed the U.S. tariffs affecting Greek table olives. Panos Karagiannis from PASEL emphasized that olive mills must quickly adapt to new digital requirements. Olive grower Dimitris Tsilias highlighted rising production costs and the need for collective action.
The message? The sector faces real challenges — and it needs real solutions.
Why MACC Matters
Since 2021, MACC has served as a connecting link between research and the market, startup entrepreneurship and technology, academia and production.
The quadruple helix model is not just a methodology — it is how we collaborate: academia, businesses, public administration, and civil society. All at the same table.
What Comes Next
The conference in Thessaloniki was not just another event with presentations. It was a discussion about what lies ahead: smart technologies that reduce costs, circular-economy solutions that create value from by-products, and partnerships that strengthen competitiveness.
MACC is here to turn these discussions into action.