With the aim of strengthening the agricultural sector and identifying and addressing the major challenges affecting production and the local economy, the Smart Village Lab (Smart Village Lab) in Kythira, as part of the European project INSPIRE Project, with the support of Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Humanity (MedINA).
The Participatory Workshop «Kythira Land – Our Land, Our Food» brings together the island’s agricultural cooperatives, producers, agronomists, local organizations, and active citizens, with the aim of shaping a shared vision for the future of the primary sector and strengthening cooperation around local products and Kythira’s agri-food identity.
Through participatory meetings and workshops held recently, key challenges facing the agricultural sector on Kythira have been identified, such as:
- the gradual abandonment of farming and the limited influx of new producers,
- the lack of permanent agricultural support services and agricultural advisory services,
- the need to strengthen cooperation and develop a shared agricultural narrative for the island,
- the low recognition and visibility of local products,
- as well as the impacts of the climate crisis, such as prolonged drought, high temperatures, and increasing fire risks.
The Kythira Workshop is an open space for dialogue, collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the co-creation of solutions, drawing on the experience, ideas, and participation of people who are active in or interested in the island’s agri-food sector. Based in Kythira Foundation for Culture and Development (KIPA), operates through regular meetings and workshops, where its members establish common priorities and develop initiatives to address the needs of Kythira.
The initial steps of the Workshop include the development of a shared agricultural narrative for Kythira, the promotion of the island’s high-quality local products and their producers through targeted publicity and marketing campaigns, and the exploration of new forms of collaboration and collective representation for the agricultural sector. At the same time, initiatives are being promoted to provide technical and scientific support to producers, improve the quality and added value of products, and foster connections between producers, businesses, and local stakeholders.
The «Kythiraiki Gi – Our Earth, Our Food» aims to serve as a vibrant hub of collaboration and innovation, laying the groundwork for a shared vision, collective action, and a more resilient, sustainable, and outward-looking agri-food system in Kythira.
More information about the workshop's first activities:
https://med-ina.org/el/apo-tis-topikes-anagkes-stis-syllogikes-lyseis/.
INSPIRE supports social inclusion, well-being, and the development of rural areas through «Smart Village Workshops» aimed at creating improved governance frameworks. INSPIRE is funded by the European Union. The views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (EREA). Neither the European Union nor the EREA is responsible for them.
