The Greek Government is promoting the implementation of a strategic plan for the modernization of rural infrastructure, which will ensure the successful transition to competitive agriculture and resilience to climate change, said Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, Costas Skrekas in his speech on Friday , at the IV Conference on Sustainable Development in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean, organized by The Economist in Athens.

Speaking on the topic "Climate Change and Nutrition", the deputy minister pointed out that the objective of the Greek government is to speed up the use of water and in general all inputs, in the context of the European strategy from farm to table. The national strategic plan for the reconstruction of the agro-environmental infrastructure will allow the collection and use of rainwater, while protecting crops from extreme weather events, he said.

This will also end the paradoxical phenomenon that is observed today, on the one hand spending millions of euros to compensate farmers for the damage caused by floods and on the other hand the farmers themselves pay millions of euros every year to pump water from the underground aquifer to irrigate their crops.

Skrekas expressed optimism that Greek agriculture can very quickly move into a new era that will be distinguished by competitive products and the rational use of natural resources. A key role in this transition will be played by the agricultural advisory system designed by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food in order to improve the training of farmers and allow producers to take advantage of modern smart farming practices.

The objective is to produce quality agri-food products and effectively communicate their benefits to consumers so that producers can guarantee better prices, said the vice minister.

Regarding the role of nutrition in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Skrekas highlighted the importance of adequate food consumption. "We can reduce the impact on the environment by setting new priorities with an emphasis on reducing food waste and producing energy from agricultural waste," he said, adding that all available options should be considered to support income from farmers and protect the environment.