The Herbs for Growth (HEGO) Project has successfully concluded its mission to modernize and diversify herb enterprises in Greece, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia, promoting sustainable, value-added herb products and cross-border trade opportunities. The project’s achievements, including novel training courses, an e-learning platform, and the establishment of the HEGO herb cluster in the Black Sea region, were showcased at the last National Dissemination Event in Greece, which was held on Thursday 27 April 2023 in Polygiros [Halkidiki], Greece.
The HEGO Project, an EU-funded initiative, was designed to modernize herb enterprises and enhance cross-border trade opportunities in the Black Sea Basin region. The project aimed to promote sustainable and value-added herb products by introducing modern cultivation methods, quality, safety and environmental standards, and diversification of mainstream agricultural activities with the introduction of herbs. The project also sought to enhance cross-border trade opportunities for herb enterprises by introducing new marketing strategies, promoting systematic cross-border networking schemes, and establishing cross-border trade linkages among herb sector actors, aided by ICT tools for better access to herb markets.
During the last National Dissemination Event, the project’s achievements were showcased, including the role and purpose of HEGO for the development of the herb sector, the novel training courses and tools used in entrepreneurship training, and the e-learning platform. Attendees also learned about the new opportunities created for cross-border collaboration in the Black Sea Basin through the annual HEGO Forums, the e-portal, and the establishment of the HEGO herb cluster in the region.
The HEGO Project was an EU-funded initiative aimed at promoting sustainable and value-added herb products and enhancing cross-border trade opportunities for herb enterprises in the Black Sea Basin region. The project was implemented in Greece, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia, and sought to modernize herb enterprises by introducing modern cultivation methods, quality, safety, and environmental standards, and diversification of mainstream agricultural activities with the introduction of herbs.
Quotes from the Team members:
“We hope that the project’s achievements, including the novel training courses and tools used in entrepreneurship training, and the establishment of the HEGO herb cluster, will serve as a model for sustainable, value-added herb production and cross-border trade opportunities in the region“, added Professor Anastasios Michailidis, project manager of PP2 (AUTH) of HEGO.
“We are proud of the work we have accomplished through the HEGO Project, and we are excited to see the long-term impact of our efforts on the herb sector in the Black Sea Basin region” said Mr Tassos Livadiotis, project manager of HEGO.