NextGenBioPest Presented in Crete: Bridging Science and Farming at the Agricultural Cooperative of Tympaki!

On June 11th, 2025, the Agricultural Cooperative of Tympaki in southern Crete hosted a highly engaging event that brought together some of the leading voices in Greek agriculture, offering the perfect setting to introduce NextGenBioPest to the farming community at the heart of Mediterranean crop production.

The event united a diverse and distinguished group of participants, including professors from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), experts from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh), and local farmers and producers from across southern Crete — creating a rich, cross-disciplinary dialogue between the research community and the people working the land every day.

As part of the agenda, the NextGenBioPest project was formally introduced to attendees, shining a spotlight on the innovative, eco-friendly approaches to pest control being developed within the consortium. Key topics included the use of biological control agents, green pesticides, and the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) — all central pillars of NextGenBioPest's mission to reduce reliance on conventional chemical pesticides and support a more sustainable agricultural future.

The session sparked lively discussion, with farmers and experts alike sharing practical experiences, challenges, and perspectives from the field. This exchange of knowledge proved invaluable — not only in raising awareness of the project's tools and findings, but in grounding the research in the real-world realities faced by producers in the region.

Events like this one are a cornerstone of NextGenBioPest's approach to impact: ensuring that cutting-edge science does not remain confined to laboratories and academic publications, but reaches the farmers, cooperatives, and communities who stand to benefit most from its outcomes. Southern Crete, with its rich agricultural heritage and diverse crop systems, represents exactly the kind of environment where next-generation biopesticide solutions can make a tangible difference.

NextGenBioPest looks forward to continuing to strengthen these connections across Greece and beyond, fostering the collaboration between science and practice that sustainable agriculture truly depends on.