When the top priority of modern livestock farming is to ensure flavourful products with high nutritional value that promote economic growth while also protecting the environment, the answer is extensive goat and sheep farming. That is the overriding message sent by the Greek National Interprofessional Meat Organization (EDOK) at an event held Thursday 23/1 in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of the Signed by Nature programme.
The Swedish audience, already familiar with environmental issues, expressed great interest in the particular features of extensive goat and sheep farming as practised in Greece, one of which is its contribution to preserving the environment.
The event was kicked off with opening remarks by the Greek Economic and Commercial Attaché in Sweden, Pantelis Giannoulis, before turning the floor over to Greek Ambassador Andreas Fryganas, who said that extensive goat and sheep farming is amongst the traditional livestock farming practices in Greece, and noted that Greece must highlight its qualitative characteristics and comparative advantages The Ambassador congratulated EDOK on staging the event, and expressed the hope that similar efforts will take place in future, as there is wide interest in Sweden in the messages that “Signed by Nature” brings.
The significance of goat and sheep farming as a driver of growth for Greece’s primary sector was highlighted by EDOK President Eleftherios Gitsas, who placed particular emphasis on the high quality of the products being made.
Signed by Nature’s key messages were further developed by programme coordinator Vicky Kostopoulou. The sustainable production of goat and sheep meat, as “signed by nature”, helps to conserve cultural richness and produce high-quality meat; it has a positive environmental footprint, protects against natural disasters and helps maintain biodiversity. It was this last message in particular that drew excitement from attendees, who asked questions to learn more about how goat and sheep farming helps shape and maintain the typical Greek landscape, on which the event cast a spotlight.