Conference of the Agricultural University of Athens hosting the World Peasant Association (WPA) and the China Agriculture Cooperation Association (CACA)

FOOD SECURITY IN GREECE AND CHINA. THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS. SYNERGIES IN RESEARCH AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP with the participation of WPA and CACA.

Conference of the Agricultural University of Athens
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Amphitheater of the Agricultural University of Athens

The conference of the Agricultural University of Athens, hosting the World Peasant Association (WPA) and the China Agriculture Cooperation Association (CACA), was held with great success on Thursday, November 7, 2024. The event took place in the Foundation’s Amphitheater and was a meeting point for representatives of the academic, business and political worlds.

Purpose and Organizing Committee

The day was organized with the aim of strengthening the cooperation between Greece and China in the fields of agriculture, agri-food and the pharmaceutical industry, with a particular emphasis on sustainable and innovative practices. The Organizing Committee consisted of renowned scientists and personalities:

•  Prof Dr., Dr. h. c. Dimitrios J. Bilalis, Agricultural University of Athens
•  Kostas Isihos, Former Deputy Minister of National Defense
• Dr Nikolaos Krimnianiotis, Coordinator of the European Program  ARISTOIL and  CEO of  LIVA GROVES SA.
• Rodrigo DO VAL FERREIRA, International Cooperation Dept. of WPA

Presence of Chinese Delegation

• The day was honored by the presence of 63 members of the Chinese delegation, which was made up of representatives of cooperative organizations, entrepreneurs of the pharmaceutical sector and the agri-food sector. Head of itdelegation was the General Secretary of the WPA, Mr. Zhang Qi.

The Chinese delegation was warmly welcomed by the Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens, together with professors and staff of the Foundation, who expressed their joy for the opportunity to cooperate and exchange knowledge.

Attendees

Among the distinguished guests who graced the conference with their presence were:

• The Consul General of the Embassy of China in Athens, Mr. Tsu
• The Secretary General of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Baginetas
• Academics, Entrepreneurs and representatives of the business world in the fields of agri-food and the pharmaceutical industry.

Exchange of Souvenirs and Greetings

The event began with the greetings of the officials and the exchange of souvenirs, as a sign of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The participants expressed their satisfaction with the exchange of views and the prospect of future cooperation in the fields of agriculture and sustainable development. Then the host professor Mr. Dimitrios Billalis gave her a tour representation in Plato’s Olive which is in a special display case inside the Foundation

Program of Presentations and Discussions

A rich program followed with presentations and discussions on critical issues of agriculture and agri-food, such as:

• Innovative practices in agricultural production
• Health benefits of olive oil and the program ARISTOIL
• Cooperation in the field of agriculture between Greece and China
• Future perspectives in agri-food and the green economy

The day was an excellent opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations, promote know-how and develop new partnerships in the field of University Research, agri-food and sustainable agricultural practices. Issues of cooperation were discussed, both in the scientific field between the respective institutions and in the business field.

Professor Mr. Dimitrios Bilalis presented the evolution of Greek Agriculture, the current possibilities of increasing production, the shift to new crops that are particularly profitable, taking into account climate change. Afterwards, Professor Petros Roussos, referred to olive growing from ancient times to today, the problems and possibilities of producing quality Greek EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL.

Special attention was given by the Chinese Delegation to the beneficial properties of olive oil polyphenols in human health, to the studies carried out in Greece and in the world regarding the treatment of essential diseases (Alzheimer, Parkinson, Multiple Sclerosis, prevention of blood clots in diabetics, forms of cancer, etc. ) presented by Professor of the School of Pharmacy, Mr. P. Magiatis.

This was followed by the presentation of the results of the European Projects ARISTOIL ARISTOIL CAP and ARISTOIL PLUS (2016-2022), by Dr. Nikolaos Krimnianiotis, Project Coordinator, with which projects trained at least 2,000 olive producers who can produce at least 15,000Tn of Health Claim olive oil and are at  phase of the organization of the production process and formation of CLUSTER .

Dr. Eleni Maloupa, presented Greek herbs and small forest fruits in research and cultivation as a guide: their role in international exchanges and education Similar presentations were made by Chinese delegation and special emphasis was placed on the way of cooperation and distribution of the products.

A standing committee was established to coordinate the activities between Greek and Chinese Agencies, to help further cooperation. The Organizing Committee of the conference will participate from the Greek side and the heads of the delegation from the Chinese side. The first meeting of the joint committee took place the same day at a dinner, where the rules of communication and support for Greek-Chinese cooperation were defined

The topics presented at the conference were::

• 10:30-10:50  Prof Dr., Dr. h. c. Dimitrios J. Bilalis , “Crop systems and safety & secure in Greece”
• 10:50-11:00  Li  Ji, Deputy Director of International Cooperation Department of CACA , “WPA and CACA”.
• 11:00-11:15  Professor Petros Roussos.” Olive growing to date and the prospects ”
• 11:15-11:30  Mr. Tang Heng, Agricultural Cooperation Association Executive Director (CEO), Dongwang (Guangzhou) International Supply Chain Co., Ltd. Topic: The Future of Smart Agricultural Supply Chain, Building a Global Agricultural Products Distribution Network
• 11:30-11:40. Moschos Korasidis, General Director of the ETHEAS.  The National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Greece.
• 11:40-11:55. Ass. Prof Prokopios Magiatis, Polyphenols of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and human health. Applied research in Greece and in the world.
• 11:55 -12:10  Dr Nikolaos Krimnianiotis, The ARISTOIl Mediterranean Program 2016-2022. Training, support, monitoring of 5,000 Mediterranean producers for the production of healthy olive oil. Innovations and Investment opportunities. The LIVA GROVES SA company
• 12:10 – 12:25  Chairman of Zhejiang Yunchuan Landscape Environment Construction Co., Ltd. Topic: International Development of Agricultural and Forestry Industry.
• 12:25-12:40  Dr. Eleni Maloupa Former Research Director, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA, Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resourses, Curator Balkan Botanic Garden Kroussia, GREECE , emaloupa@elgo.gr Topic: Greek herbs and small forest fruits in research and cultivation as a guide: their role in international exchanges and training.
• 12:40- 12:55. Mr. Jiang Haihua, General Manager of Linyi Pavilion, Dongyang Rosewood International Agricultural Exchanges. Topic: Taking wood as a guide, Talking about the role of rosewood in international agricultural exchanges.
• 13:40-13:50.  Mr. Xiang Qiaoying, Chairman of Zhejiang Yuxiang Co., Ltd. Outstanding private enterprise in Yiwu. Topic: Yiwu Small Product Market and Domestic and Foreign Trade..
• 13:50-14:00 BIOLAR S.A. World Broker COTTON and Subproducts
• 14:00-14:10 MARCOU S.A. world broker grain.
• 14:10-14:20 PHARMEX SA ( PHARMACEUTICAL IMPORTS , EXPORTS)  C.E.O NIKOS PAPAZOGLOU
• 14:20-14:40 SUPERFOODS Ltd, NUTRITIONAL SUPLEMENTS, CEO KONSTANTINOS PAPAZOGLOU
• 14:40-14:50 KYKNOS, Industrial canning  Tomato . Exports
• 14:50-15:00 FRUTOGROUP. VASILIS KAMARIS. IMPORTS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, REAL ESTATE, INTERNATIONAL
• 15:00-15:10 SUB SYSTEM HYDROLOGEOLOGICAL & MINING RESEARCH . Director of Comunications Dimitris Katsikis

A Few Words about WPA and CACA

The World Peasant Association (WPA) is a non-governmental, non-political, international organization dedicated to serving farmers. By enhancing cooperation between agricultural organizations in different countries, it helps member countries’ agricultural organizations improve their ability to manage agricultural production, enhance technology exchange, improve production efficiency, processing, logistics and marketing of agricultural products to improve farmers’ income.

CACA, is the association of Agricultural Cooperatives of China and unites thousands of Chinese entrepreneurs from the food industry (270 million member-cooperatives), agriculture and pharmaceutical industry who traveled to Cyprus for the 3rd WPA International Congress (3-6/ 11/2024) and after the end of the conference, they were interested in getting to know Greek Agriculture, how it developed from ancient times until today, to get to know the adequacy of basic Greek agricultural products, the control methods of food safety, the scientific research for the development of new crops adapted to climate change, the scientific research for the contribution of food to the prevention of diseases in humans and animals and to be introduced to investment and commercial opportunities, with potential Greek partners.