The Agricultural Cooperatives Union tabled a proposal to the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food, calling for the establishment of a national standard for regenerative agriculture in Greece.
The agricultural union has already advocated for the official recognition and integration of regenerative agriculture practices into the agri-environmental schemes of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The plan was prompted by the keen interest demonstrated during the “Agrothessaly 2025” event, which focused on the topic of regenerative agriculture
“The interest shown by the boards of agricultural cooperatives and their farmer-members was remarkable, as these practices are more relevant than ever,” the letter notes. “Conventional agriculture continues to deplete natural resources, climate change increasingly affects crops year-round, and the farming community appears ready to adopt more sustainable practices.”
The Agricultural Cooperatives Union has urged Greek authorities to incorporate these methods into CAP’s eco-schemes. “We believe this amendment would incentivize producers to adopt practices that restore ecosystems and foster sustainability and innovation,” the Union stated.
In addition, taking into account current developments and the needs of the agri-food sector, ETH.E.A.S. is proposing the development of a National Regenerative Agriculture Standard. The standard would be designed by ELGO-DIMITRA and accredited in accordance with applicable international benchmarks. It would include clearly defined specifications, technical requirements, and best practices to guide the application of regenerative agriculture in Greece, forming the basis for a reliable, scientifically grounded certification framework.
“The adoption of this standard would enhance the technical alignment of Greek agricultural production with international sustainability norms, facilitate the development of accredited compliance assessment processes, and strengthen the global competitiveness of Greek agricultural products,” the letter concludes.
Regenerative agriculture is the process of restoring degraded soils using management practices (e.g., adaptive grazing, no-till planting, no or limited use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizer, etc.) based on ecological principles.
