Until Friday 3 February, interested parties can register for the free training programme "Basil farming: Utilization, conservation and improvement of bee genetic material in Evia", by the organization New Georgia New Generation.

This action aspires to completely transform the beekeeping sector in Greece. It aims to develop more resilient and productive bee colonies through the optimization of endemic genetic material.

The training programme is co-funded by "New Agriculture New Generation" through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the Ioannis S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation and enterprise APIVITA. It is implemented under the scientific guidance of a team of professors from the Agricultural University of Athens, led by Assistant Professor George Gora.

The project "Apiculture: Utilisation, conservation and improvement of bee genetic material" is a unique practice in Europe and possibly worldwide. It is being implemented this year for the second time, having started in Thessaly, where the final number of beneficiaries is estimated to exceed 40% of all beekeepers in the Region. In this context, it has already received important distinctions in Greece, such as the Bravo Sustainability Award 2022, category "Ecosystem and Biodiversity Protection" and the GOLD Environmental Award, category "Sustainable Agriculture".

The aim of the action is the implementation of a significant number of royal cell inoculations by a team of specialized beekeepers-keepers. After receiving the appropriate training, they will have the ability to:

• present the way
• explain the procedure in detail
• but also to answer questions to the beekeepers who will be participating.

New Georgia New Generation - The programme

The training programme "Apiculture: Utilization, conservation and improvement of bee genetic material in Evia" is one of the programmes of the 5th cycle of free training and consultancy programmes. The "New Georgia New Generation" organisation will implement in partnership with a number of important actors and institutions from the ecosystem of agri-food .

The programme has multiple objectives, including:

• familiarising a large proportion, up to 50%, of beekeepers in Evia with the process of producing quality queen bees
• mass production of selected genetic material in the entire area in order to increase production
• but also the creation of a specialised activity - the provision of vaccination - which could potentially provide a professional outlet

The two strands

1. The identification and specialized training of up to twelve (12) young people who have knowledge and experience of beekeeping practice. They will be trained in beekeeping and royal jelly production and general specialized knowledge in good beekeeping practice. After receiving this necessary training, the six (6) most qualified individuals with the willingness and ability to support the next step of the project will be selected.

2. The activation of the six (6) selected qualified inoculators in Evia, approximately four (4) in North Evia and two (2) in South Evia. This activity will involve the coordination of beekeepers in the region, who wish to participate in the project and to whom the demonstration and implementation of basil cell inoculations will be organized for the production of quality basilisks of selected genetic material.

Interested parties can find out more about the programme and the conditions of participation and submit their applications here .

Deadline for applications: 03/02/2023

Start date: February - March 2023

Duration: up to 18 months