In June 2022, Greek local and native agricultural varieties, and their associated knowledge and practices, were inscribed on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Agricultural University of Athens, in collaboration with Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources – Greek Gene Bank of the Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA.

Local and native agricultural varieties are an important expression of the long-term interaction between humans and nature, and are at the base of many food products, goods and practices that constitute Greece culture.

The local and indigenous agricultural varieties included in the list pertain to many agricultural species, such as 'Rodi Ermionis', 'Prespa beans', the dried figs 'Taxiarchis' of northern Evia, Einkorn wheat 'Kaploutzas', exquisite Greek vine varieties, 'Englouvis' lentils from Lefkada Island, oily and table olives, Fava 'Feneou' and 'Santorinis', 'Corinthian' raisin-currant, and the pea cultivar 'Katsouni' of Amorgos Island.

For more information, please read the full press release by the Agricultural University of Athens.