The conference on “Agriculture and Business: Opportunities for cooperation with the research community”, co-organized by the Association of Greek Industries (SBE), the technology transfer office (ELKE) AUTH and the Interdisciplinary Agri-Food Centre of AUTH (KEAGRO AUTH), was held with particular success, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at the premises of SBE, in Thessaloniki, Greece.

According to the organizers, the integration of innovative methods in the production process is of primary importance and therefore the interconnection of production with the university community is decisive. It is a shared belief that the opportunities created between the scientific / research communities of the Interdisciplinary Agri-Food Centre of AUTH- KEAGRO AUTH and the member companies of SBE can interact creatively with the adoption of new approaches for citizens and society.

The goal of the conference was to inform businesses/companies as well as others involved in the agri-food sector in order to highlight the added value and benefits of interdisciplinary cooperation and research infrastructures for the agri-food sector and society.

During the conference, three different thematic sections were presented:

  • Research and innovation in the food and processing sectors,
  • Research and innovation in the field of animal production, as well as,
  • Agri-food innovation support initiatives with innovative tools in agri-food chain services.

THEROS was represented by Spectra Lab colleagues from AUTH, namely Kostas Karyotis and Achilleas Zalidis, who talked about how portable and low-cost spectrometers using micro-electromechanical systems can effectively monitor physicochemical properties of solids (e.g., soil and flour) and liquids (e.g., milk) in a rapid and non-destructive way with the power of artificial intelligence.

Their presentation entitled “Καινοτόμα εργαλεία ανάλυσης των ποιοτικών χαρακτηριστικών σε διάφορα στάδια της αγροδιατροφικής αλυσίδας” – “Innovative tools for the analysis of quality characteristics at various stages of the agro-food chain“, is available here.

The Greek announcement is available here.