The need for Greek agriculture to move from the logic of subsidies to a new model of extroversion, quality and international presence was highlighted by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Margaritis Schinas, during the web conference on “Extroverted Agriculture”.
Opening the discussion, Mr Schinas noted that the aim of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the creation of a new extroversion policy, which will highlight Greek products and their added value in foreign markets.
The programme for “Reverse Agriculture”, which is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Governance, aims, he said, to turn political aspirations into concrete tools for the primary sector.
Through the initiative, producers and consumers will be able to connect with the richness of Greek agri-food, the places of production, the stories of the products and the international markets they can address.
“The essence of extroverted agriculture is not in theoretical analyses, but in action, in products, processes and tools,” the minister stressed, noting the need for a comprehensive restructuring of the primary sector based on added value and competitiveness.
He made special reference to the potential of the Greek region and the people of production. He said that the problems of the primary sector were not due to the quality of Greek land or the producers, but mainly to long-standing state rigidities and delays that limited the development of the real potential of Greek agriculture.
Schinas also referred to the international recognition of Greek agri-food, noting that Greek products are gaining an increasingly strong presence in foreign markets, thanks to their quality, authenticity and their connection with the Mediterranean diet.
According to his previous reports, Greece has 121 PDO and PGI products, which constitute a strong comparative advantage for the country. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, exports of agricultural and food products continue to rise, with a new 6.5% increase recorded in 2025.
The same data shows that one in four Greek export products currently comes from the primary sector and food processing, which highlights the strategic importance of agri-food for the Greek economy.
The Minister stressed that extroversion cannot be based on state initiatives alone. He said that daily effort, cooperation and investment in the quality, reliability and identity of Greek products is required.
“The big bet is to move from individual successes to an organised national strategy of extroversion,” he said, adding that the initiative for “Outward-looking Agriculture” aspires to link production with innovation, technology and international networking.
In conclusion, Schinas said that the future of Greek agriculture should not be limited to “a policy of payments, subsidies and cheques”, but should be based on political actions, visions and objectives that will enhance the added value of Greek products and the overall restructuring of the primary sector.
