On Saturday, October 19th, Dr. Theofanis Zacharatos, researcher at AE4RIA, participated in the Olympia Forum V, contributing to a discussion centered on sustainability within the agri-food sector.
In his remarks, Dr. Zacharatos emphasized the critical interdependence between economic, environmental, and social sustainability. He highlighted that achieving a transition towards a more equitable and environmentally conscious agri-food system necessitates clear targets within these three dimensions. Among these objectives, he pointed out the importance of reducing food waste as a key step toward sustainability.
Dr. Zacharatos also discussed the FABLE (Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land-Use, and Energy) initiative, a program in Greece spearheaded by the AE4RIA network (Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aephoria) under the scientific leadership of Prof. Dr. Phoebe Koundouri. The FABLE initiative aims to strengthen local capacities for modeling complex agri-food and land-use systems. By employing the FABLE methodology, the initiative generates forecasts on Greece’s potential performance in sustainable agriculture, energy, food security, and biodiversity from 2020 to 2050. This approach facilitates the creation of national strategies that align with global objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. According to FABLE’s projections, full achievement of Greece’s national commitments could result in zero agricultural emissions by 2040.
Dr. Zacharatos expressed his gratitude to the organizers and fellow participants for the opportunity to engage in discussions on these vital issues shaping the future of the agri-food sector.