The event titled “Funding Opportunities in Agri-Food: Digital Innovation in Action” was successfully completed with strong participation on Saturday, March 14, 2026, as part of the parallel events of Agrotica in Thessaloniki.
The event was co-organised by the Democritus University of Thrace, lead partner of the DigiAgriFood and OFELIA projects, together with the DIGI-Rangeland and FARM360TECH projects.
At the beginning of the event, participants were invited to respond live to a questionnaire addressing needs and challenges in the agri-food sector. This interactive activity enabled active audience engagement, highlighting key difficulties in production, processing, and product distribution. The collected data will be utilised by the projects at a later stage.
Emilia Lebesi, National Coordinator of the European project DIGI-Rangeland, presented the programme, which aims to establish a knowledge exchange network for digital technologies and innovations targeting livestock farmers and rangeland users. She highlighted the project’s objectives, thematic areas, and implementation stages, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of the network and the challenges of digital transformation in extensive livestock farming.
Ioannis Amarantidis, Project Manager of the OFELIA and DigiAgriFood projects, presented the OFELIA project, which focuses on functional foods and aromatic and medicinal plants. He underlined that the project aims to enhance innovation and digital transformation across the entire value chain, from production to market, through interregional collaboration and advanced technologies.
Natasa Kiorapostolou, Project Manager at EXEO and project partner, presented the OFELIA Hub, a digital reference point and one-stop-shop for solutions in the agri-food sector. She emphasized that the platform aims to facilitate access to innovative tools and support producers, businesses, researchers, and stakeholders, acting as a mechanism for networking and collaboration.
Grigoris Chatzikostas, representing reframe.food, presented the OFELIA Open Call, focusing on funding opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-food sector, particularly at the final stages of innovation before market deployment. Emphasis was placed on funded activities such as the development of new or improved products and services, pilot testing and validation of solutions, and preparation for market entry.
From the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development, Vagia Kyratzouli presented the FARM360TECH project, demonstrating how digital transformation and Agriculture 5.0 technologies enhance productivity while reducing environmental impact. The main actions of the project were presented, along with the funding programme that will support 62 SMEs.
Ismini Papakyrillou, CEO of the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB), presented funding opportunities for the agri-food sector, focusing on the support of innovative businesses and sustainable projects. She referred to loan and guarantee funds, the new Agricultural Entrepreneurship Fund, TEPIX III, the Innovation Guarantee Fund, as well as non-financial tools.
The event concluded with remarks by Professor Maria Michalopoulou, Coordinator of the DigiAgriFood, OFELIA, and DIGI-Rangeland projects, who highlighted the importance of collaboration and interconnection among stakeholders in promoting innovation, growth, and the development of sustainable and competitive ecosystems.
