Aiming to enhance the utilization of agri-food waste in line with the principles of the circular economy, a Voluntary Agreement was signed between the Greek Ministry of the Environment & Energy and MedINA. This initiative is part of the European project “LIFE-IP CEI-Greece – Implementation of Circular Economy in Greece”.
As part of the National Action Plan for Circular Economy and the National Waste Management Plan, the project “LIFE-IP CEI-Greece – Implementation of Circular Economy in Greece” carries out actions and promotes dynamic initiatives for the transition to a sustainable and efficient economic model. Through the signing of voluntary agreements, circular economy is strengthened, bioeconomy development is encouraged, and Greece’s unique capabilities and natural wealth are utilized.
Through this Voluntary Agreement, the Ministry of the Environment & Energy and MedINA will collaborate to exchange knowledge and data in the field of agri-food waste, seek optimal management practices, establish innovative technological systems, and explore investment opportunities, as the sector presents significant development prospects.
At the same time, the actions to be implemented within the framework of the voluntary agreement align with MedINA’s new Strategic Plan (2025-2029) and the program “Let It Grow – Sustainable Food Systems in the Aegean”. The implementation of MedINA’s Strategic Plan is expected to be integrated into the action “Sustainable Agri-food Entrepreneurship”, with a focus on Lemnos and the Northern Aegean.
During the signing of the Voluntary Agreement, representatives from MedINA met with the Secretary-General for Waste Management Coordination of the Ministry of the Environment & Energy, Mr. Manolis Grafakos. The Voluntary Agreement was signed by Mr. Alexis Katsaros, Executive Director of MedINA, Ms. Sofia Mani, Project Coordinator and Head of the Waste Management Department of the Ministry of the Environment & Energy, and Ms. Zoe Gaitanarou, Waste Management Expert and project partner from the Green Fund.
In addition to the aforementioned individuals, the following people attended the signing of the Voluntary Agreement: Rigas Zafeiriou, Sustainable Food Systems Programme Manager at MedINA, Eva Bozou, Project Manager for Sustainable Food Systems at MedINA, Mary Plati, Project Manager at the Ministry of the Environment & Energy, Fay Nakou, Expert at the Ministry of the Environment & Energy, Maria Tsakona, Expert at the Ministry of the Environment & Energy, Christina Gioti, Administrative and Secretariat Support at the Ministry of the Environment & Energy, and Katerina Ladopoulou, Communication, Events & Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of the Environment & Energy.
A few words about the project “LIFE-IP CEI-Greece – Implementation of Circular Economy in Greece”
The project “LIFE-IP CEI-Greece – Implementation of Circular Economy in Greece” aims to contribute to the implementation of the National Waste Management Plan, the National Waste Prevention Program, and the National Strategy for Circular Economy. The project highlights a new approach in the waste sector based on the principles of the circular economy, adopting practices and behaviour changes to extend the lifecycle of products, convert waste into resources, and effectively apply the legislative measures package for waste.
For more information about the “LIFE-IP CEI-Greece – Circular Greece: Time for Action” project, you can visit the project’s website at circulargreece.gr and its social media channels:
A few words about MedINA
MedINA is an environmental organization that supports small local communities with the goal of strengthening them through the protection and preservation of their natural resources and the promotion of their cultural heritage. The organization’s vision is a world where communities thrive in harmony with nature.
Featured image – from right: Fay Nakou, Mary Plati, Maria Tsakona, Rigas Zafeiriou, Eva Bozou, Zoe Gaitanarou, Sofia Mani, Alexis Katsaros.