Stakeholders

ABEA SA was founded in 1889 in Chania, Crete and is the oldest olive oil industry in Greece. Today it has a presence in the sectors: Standardization and marketing of Cretan extra virgin olive oil, olive oil and olive kernel oil,
Production and marketing of olive oil soaps, Refining of olive oils and pomace oils, Processing of olive kernel for the production of crude pomace oil and heartwood. It also has OLIVEOLEIC which is olive meal (animal feed) produced from mill by-products.

Agrofilia was founded in 2017 in Heraklion, Crete. It is active in the marketing of pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, agricultural inputs and propagating material. Representing major companies in the field of pharmaceuticals and fertilizers, it supplies agricultural stores with innovative and competitive products aimed at improving agricultural production. With its know-how, continuous training and the professionalism of its fully trained and experienced staff, it covers the needs of the land and the farmer. In addition, the company provides consultancy services at all stages of production, combined with excellent technical support to the agronomist and producer.

The American Farm School is an independent, non-profit educational organization, founded in 1904 in Thessaloniki to serve the needs of the population of Greece and the Balkans. Its main educational departments are the Primary Education, the Gymnasium, the General High School, the School of Vocational Education (Vocational High School, “Modern Agricultural Practices” program for high school graduates, Agricultural Applications) and the Perrotis College of Agriculture, Environment and Life Sciences. The American Farm School Innovation and Impact Hub acts as an innovation broker, integrates high technology into everyday agricultural practice and aims to create added value for the Greek producer.

The Bio Research Laboratories is a company which was founded in 2001 by a group of scientists. It is a modern structure with dynamic laboratories that cover the growing needs of the entire food, water and environmental production and management chain.
Bio Research Laboratories applies safety and quality management systems to its partner companies, performs accurate and reliable laboratory analyses and provides scientific and substantial support to private companies and public institutions. Among others, they provide laboratory analyses of Food – Beverages, Water, Wastewater – Waste, Environmental Samples, Animal Feed.

BIOXYM S.A., the first extraction industry in Greece, was founded in 1956 and is today one of the few factories in Greece that are involved in the processing of citrus fruits and the standardization of juices. It receives from the fertile plain of Chania and extracts fresh citrus fruits such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruit, etc.

Crete Milk Processing Industry SA is active in the production of dairy products. It is focused on goat’s milk, yoghurt production and private label ice cream (pl). In 2002 he joined the staff of the industry Mills Of Crete which acquired the trade name “Vero Kritiko”, for the production and distribution of all kinds of cheese (Graviera Crete, Feta, Anthotyros, Xinomyzithra, Dakotyri – Pichtogalo Chania etc.), traditional Yogurt and Fresh Goat Milk, which was the first packaged goat milk released in the Greek market.

Foundation For Technology And Research (FORTH) is the largest research centre in Greece, with 9 research institutes and 3 Special Structures located and operating in 8 cities in Greece. The Foundation focuses on innovative interdisciplinary research directions of great social and economic interest, with high added value. Its Institutes are active in areas covering the fields of Physical and Engineering Sciences, Life Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences. It cooperates closely with leading Academic and Research institutions in Greece and abroad, with emphasis on the education and training of young scientists. It contributes significantly to Regional Development in the regions where it operates and plays a leading role in the design and implementation of Smart Specialisation strategies in Greece.

The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (EL.KE.TH.E.) is a governmental research organisation operating under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSCI) of the Ministry of Development.
It collaborates with the Institute of Oceanographic Instrumentation, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, University of Piraeus and others. Through its representatives, it actively participates in International Organizations, Committees and Associations (IOC/UNESCO, CIESM, EMAPS/ESF, EAZA, EUAC, EUROGOOS, ICCAT, STECF), in networks (COST, ERA-NET, MedCLIVAR), in Scientific Committees within the framework of international programmes, and in National Committees and Councils (National Reference Centre of the European Environment Agency, Marine Research Subcommittee of the IGSP of the Academy of Athens, EKT, etc.ά.).

The Hellenic Mediterranean University is a public academic institution in Greece, with its headquarters in Heraklion, Crete and branches in Chania, Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra and Sitia.
ELMEPA is particularly active in conducting research. Its research policy focuses on both basic and technological or applied research that promotes science and development and respects academic ethics. At the same time, it promotes cooperation with national and international educational and research institutions. As a result, a wide network of research collaborations has been developed and is continuously supported through the implementation of Research and Development projects, the collaboration with internationally renowned Research Centres, as well as the interaction and collaboration with businesses and the private sector in general.

The industry of Hiotakis Bros. started as a small bakery in 1982 in Chania, Crete, with recipes from the grandmothers of the founders. In 1995 the first frozen dough factory in Crete was established. Since then, the company has been steadily evolving, automating the production processes. It employs 100 workers in 20 production lines located in 5,500 sq.m. It has 500 storage pallet positions (freezing -18oC).

The InoFA (Internet of Food Alliance) innovation cluster is an effort to interconnect all the links of the agri-food chain and those who provide materials and services to it under a common umbrella based on high technology and the Internet of Things. Its aim is to create synergies between participants and civil society in order to develop new digital products and services that lead to the improvement of existing processes on behalf of all links in the supply chain.
The scheme brings together primary production, packaging of agricultural products, distribution, retail, research and educational organisations, civil society organisations, technology providers, service and material providers from all over Greece.
It is coordinated by the American Farm School, acting as a Facilitator.

The Educational Company KDVM Ploigos is a Civil Sociaty which is active both in Greece and abroad. Among other things, it implements local and regional development actions, designs, ensures, organises and conducts programmes for the development of entrepreneurship and the social economy, participates in integrated programmes and related accompanying and complementary actions, implements actions for vulnerable and vulnerable groups (disabled people, migrants, refugees, etc.) of the population that contribute to their integration into the social and productive fabric, is active in the operation and provision of liaison services, designs and implements programmes for the development of entrepreneurship and the social economy, participates in integrated programmes and related accompanying and complementary actions, implements actions for the vulnerable and fragile groups (disabled people, migrants, refugees, etc.) of the population that contribute to their integration into the social and productive fabric, is active in the operation and provision of liaison services, designs and implements programmes for the development of the social economy and the social economy.
It also deals with the planning, establishment, organization and provision of advisory services, implements monitoring and evaluation systems for the actions and activities implemented, provides certification, through certified procedures, of the knowledge, skills and competences as well as professional qualifications of individuals, which are acquired in the context of lifelong learning and undertakes and implements actions and interventions of cultural content at national, European and international level.

The history of Mills Of Crete begins in 1928 from the port of Souda in Crete, when the businessmen Soulakos, Pologiorgis and Tsianoudakis founded the general partnership company Mills Of Crete. The activities of Mills Of Crete extend to the sectors: Flour, Dairy products, products derived from cereals, Animal feed, Biofuels. In addition, they have taken a leading role in the commercial partnership entitled “Delights of Crete”. In the flour sector, it holds a leading position in the Greek market, continuously investing in research and development of new, innovative products. The products follow the strictest quality criteria. In the dairy sector, Mills Of Crete is now active through its participation in the Milk Processing Industry of Crete S.A., always under the brand “Vero Kritiko”.

OECON Group is a consulting firm with more than 20 years of experience in the industry and participation in hundreds of successfully completed investment projects. Its services include, among others, project management, subsidised programmes, implementation of European programmes, support for the implementation of Management Systems (e.g. ISO), development of studies and personalised business consultancy.

Proud Farm was launched in 2018, by a dedicated group of people who envision a sustainable future for the Greek sheep and goat industry. In the few years since its establishment, it has managed to participate in a multitude of research projects, international conferences and workshops, in industry clusters. In 2020 she was awarded the first prize at the Venture Impact Awards.
Years of coordinated work and strong perseverance led to the successful inclusion of the incubator project in the European Innovation Partnership (EIP-AGRI), a powerful funding program that will lead to the creation of the prototype of the incubator in Agios Dimitrios Kozani.

The objectives of the Regional Development Company of Crete S.A. (P.AN.ETAI.K) include: The exploitation of the region’s rich resources, the undertaking of initiatives while utilizing the local human resources, as well as the planning and implementation of investment projects and business activities. The undertaking of all kinds of initiatives and actions in support of the shareholders of the SA, the local authorities, and groups of citizens, with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage, ensuring the cultural upgrading of the area, the planned qualitative tourism development, and the preservation and protection of the environment. The education and training of the local population, especially those involved in the primary sector, in the use and adaptation of land and environmental protection.

The Scientific & Technology Park of Crete S.A. (EDAP ETEP-K S.A.) was established in December 1993 with FORTH, other institutions and private companies as shareholders. The services it provides are: Incubator services, to start-ups, business development and business planning, training services, evaluation, registration and exploitation of intellectual property. Support for international business partnerships, promotion and participation in RTD projects.

The Sensory Εvaluation Laboratory of Crete ACR was founded in 2007 in Rethymno, Crete. Today it operates under the management of Quality PlusCS, has active accreditation from the ESYD and is recognized by the International Oils Council (IOC). The modern infrastructure of the laboratory, the team of testers and the evaluation process itself are accredited by the National Accreditation System. In addition, the laboratory is accredited by TUV/AUSTRIA-HELLAS, for the development & organization of training workshops and seminars. It has certified cabins for testing and evaluation of olive oil samples under controlled conditions, appropriate equipment and modern seminar rooms. The Scientific Manager and Team Leader of the Laboratory is Mrs. Eleftheria Germanaki.

The Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Meramvello is the secondary organization of the farmers of the region of the province of Meramvellos. It was founded at the beginning of the 20th century as the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of the province of Meramvellos, in the prefecture of Lasithi, with headquarters in Neapolis.
It deals with the storage, standardization and marketing of olive oil.
At the same time, it carries out quality control, with its own chemical and organoleptic laboratory.
It has an integrated olive oil management team and applies full traceability from the field to the final product.
The Agricultural Corporate Partnership Union of Meramvellos S.A. currently has 6 Agricultural Cooperatives which have a total of 6 cooperative olive mills.

The University of Crete is a public higher educational and research institution that is strongly active in a wide range of basic and contemporary scientific fields. In its 40 years of operation, it has emerged as a highly extroverted and innovative educational and research institution with significant scientific distinctions and a special presence in international rankings. Today, it has five faculties (Philosophy, Social Sciences, Education, Science and Technology, and Health Sciences), with sixteen departments covering a wide range of disciplines.