Successful kick-off meeting of the ECOBASE INTERREG IPA-ADRION project at the University of Patras

The kick-off meeting of the ECOBASE: Eco-Friendly Nature-based Solutions to Mitigate Soil Degradation project was successfully held on 30-31 January 2025 at the University of Patras.

Professor Christos Bouras, Rector of the University of Patras, and Associate Professor of the Department of Agriculture, Pantelis Barouchas, project coordinator, welcomed and thanked both the partners and the General Secretariat and the Managing Authority of the INTERREG IPA-ADRION programme for their support in this important project to address soil degradation. The project partners presented their planned activities and analysed the deliverables and budget of the ECOBASE project, clarifying their role and responsibilities for the successful implementation and dissemination of the actions to producers and policy makers in order to address soil degradation in the Adriatic-Ionian region.

During the meeting, the communication and dissemination strategies of the project results were discussed, as well as the rules for the submission of the foreseen reports to the Joint Secretariat and the Managing Authority of the INTERREG IPA-ADRION programme. In addition, next steps and future meetings were planned, with the next one scheduled for mid-June 2025 in Padua, Italy.

Particular emphasis was placed on networking and strengthening cooperation between partners, with the Vice-Regional Governor of Western Greece, Mr. Andreas Filias, representing the Region of Western Greece and the Agri-Food Partnership of the Region of Western Greece, bodies participating as partner observers and supporters of the actions, offering the participants a book on the celebration of the 200 years of the Greek Revolution and local delicacies, as a souvenir of hospitality in the Region of Western Greece.

The ECOBASE project of the INTERREG IPA-ADRION cross-border programme aspires to contribute to tackling land degradation through innovative solutions, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and exchange of good practices for environmental protection.