The island of Kythera becomes the focus of a major agroecological initiative, as MedINA announces the launch of the project KYTHERACE - Saving the Seeds, with the aim of preserving the traditional varieties of the area and the cultural knowledge that accompanies them. With the need to protect local agrobiodiversity as its central message, the project aims to give new life to forgotten seeds, old crops and traditional techniques that are inextricably linked to the history and gastronomic identity of Kythera.
The press release follows in full:
KYTHERACE:
MA new beginning for the preservation of the traditional varieties of Kythera
Athens, 17 July 2025 - The MedINA starts the implementation of the new project «KYTHERACE - Saving the Seeds: Preserving agrobiodiversity in Kythera» -which combines the words KYTHERA and LANDRACE (local variety); with the aim of preserving local varieties and the knowledge that goes with them.
At the heart of every place is its land, its crops, its flavours. Local varieties, the seeds that have been cultivated for generations, are part of its living heritage and a key element for a healthy, resilient and sustainable agri-food future. Today, however, these precious varieties are rapidly declining due to abandonment or land use change.
Many of the traditional varieties that once thrived in Kythera have already been lost or are in danger of extinction: vegetables, fruits, legumes and even old farming practices linked to the history and gastronomy of the place.
Through KYTHERACE, and building on the experience of previous projects such as LEMRACE and the Terra Kytheria, MedINA will work intensively on the island of Kythera to protect its agricultural genetic heritage. The project includes two recording missions to identify both local varieties still preserved today and traditional or innovative cultivation methods. In addition, it includes the collection of seeds and the creation of the «Kythera Seed Ark», a small-scale Community seed bank with the necessary equipment. Through the above actions, networking and cooperation with local institutions, farmers and associations will be strengthened in order to create a vibrant network of conservationists of Kythera varieties.
Protecting local varieties is not just about agriculture - it is a question of identity, self-sufficiency, culture and local development. With collective effort, the tradition and the agri-food future of Kythera can be preserved.
The project is implemented in collaboration with the Kythira Foundation for Culture & Development (K.I.P.A.) and with the support of A.G. Leventis Foundation.
