Signing LIFE-AgrOassis Agreements with Farmers in Cyprus
Signing event in Cyprus
The official signing of contracts between the European project LIFE-AgrOassis (2022–2026) and the participating farmers took place on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI).
During the event, Dr. Panayiotis Dalias, Senior Agricultural Research Officer at the Agricultural Research Institute and project coordinator, spoke about the three main pillars of the project, highlighting the importance of reduced and zero tillage practices. Mr. Panikos Hampas, Secretary General of the Union of Cypriot Farmers (EKA), emphasized the significance of the LIFE-AgrOassis project in the context of current developments in the agricultural sector, particularly in Cyprus, where the impacts of climate change are especially severe. Dr. Dimitris Sarris, Director of the KES Research Centre, referred to the progress made so far in the project, noting the positive development of the tree planting activities. Between 2023 and 2025, more than 6,000 native and drought-resistant trees were planted using the innovative “Deep Root Training Tubes” (DRTT) method. The farmers had the opportunity to share their experiences and discuss the project’s next steps with the scientific coordinators of the actions they are involved in.
LIFE-AgrOassis is co-funded by the European Union and aims to support agriculture in areas at risk of desertification due to climate change, such as Cyprus, Thessaly, and Crete. The project is based on three main actions to support agriculture in facing the impacts of climate change: reduced or zero soil tillage, the installation of hedgerows on degraded land, and the creation of pilot composting units.
The project involves four departments of the Ministry of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Institute, Departments of Environment, Agriculture, and Forests), KES Research Centre, Laona Foundation, Open University of Cyprus, the University of Thessaly, Union of Cypriot Farmers, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Paradeisiotis Ltd, Municipality of Sitia, and Local Organization for Land Improvements (TOEB) of Tavropos, Karditsa.
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Signing event in Cyprus