On 28 April 2026, VISION4FOOD held its first co-creation workshop in Larissa, Greece, with 11 participants from public authorities, industry and SMEs, academia and research, civil society, farmers and producer groups, and consumers. The session was led and facilitated by Evangelos Akrivoulis from the region of Thessaly.
The workshop opened with an introduction to VISION4FOOD and the Food Innovation Platforms, followed by a recap of the region’s main challenges and needs. Farmers highlighted limited access to modern technologies and the high cost of introducing them, together with the effects of climate change, water management, rising production costs, market competitiveness and the promotion of local products.
Following this, participants mapped the regional food system. Food production in Thessaly is strongly affected by rising input costs, water scarcity and climate variability. At the same time, participants saw clear potential in small-scale and traditional processing, in short supply chains that connect producers and consumers more directly, and in the growing interest in local, seasonal and traditional products. Concerns were also raised about food waste, soil degradation and unequal access to support and markets for small-scale producers.
Views differed on how quickly to adopt new practices. Some farmers were cautious about costs and risks and preferred simple, proven solutions, while others focused on the potential benefits for productivity and local products. Through open discussion, participants agreed that innovation in the region should be gradual, practical and affordable.
Five strategic priorities were agreed: improved water management and climate resilience; lower production costs and better farm viability; stronger local value chains and market positioning for Thessalian products; practical adoption of innovation and digital tools, supported by training and demonstration; and closer coordination between farmers, cooperatives and public support structures.
Farmers and local producers had the strongest influence on the discussion, grounding it in day-to-day realities, while public sector representatives helped align the outcomes with regional objectives. Participants agreed that the next workshop should continue to focus on water management, cost reduction and market access, with more time for joint solution development.
