NEWS: The Chamber of Aetoloakarnania’s Info-Day within the framework of the ECOBASE project -related initiatives and projects-synergies

With great success, the Info-Day organized by the Chamber of Aetoloakarnania within the framework of the ECOBASE project was held on Friday, 13 February 2026, in the event hall of the “Andreas Syngros” building in the Community of Katochi, Oiniades.

The main objective of the Info-Day was to inform the public—and especially the agricultural community—about the project’s activities, the free tools it provides, how they can be utilized, and the benefits arising from their use.

Participants were welcomed by the Deputy Regional Governor for Rural Development, Region of Western Greece, Andreas Filias, and the President of the Chamber of Aetoloakarnania, Panagiotis Tsichritzis. They underlined the importance of implementing projects and initiatives that support local development and the agri-food sector, making use of funding opportunities and promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise, with prospects for tangible long-term results for the region.

This was followed by the presentation of the ECOBASE project by Pantelis Barouchas, Professor, President of the Dept. of Agriculture, University of Patras (Lead Partner of the ECOBASE project), as well as the presentation of the role of the Chamber of Aetoloakarnania in the project, by Spyridon Vasileiadis, Technical Expert of the Chamber of Aetoloakarnania for the implementation of the ECOBASE project.

Subsequently, the operational tools offered by the project were presented by Dimitrios Tsesmelis, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Agriculture, University of Patras, who also referred to the possibilities of measuring soil quality and nitrates, through the project’s practical solutions.

In the second part of the Info-Day, the participants also had the opportunity to learn about other related initiatives and projects, and in particular about:

• the TAGsTWO project – Interreg VI-A Greece–Italy 2021–2027 (“Enhancing R&I capacities and up-taking advanced Technological and business innovation services in Agri-food strengthening laGs’ cross-border cooperation neTWOrks”), presented by Alexandros Kalarakis (Dept. of Agriculture, University of Patras, Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Peloponnese),
• the BIO-DISTRICT APP project – Interreg VI-A Greece–Italy 2021–2027 (“Cultivating Territorial Values with a Bio-District Approach”), presented by Vasileia Papavasileiou (Scientific Collaborator, Responsible for European Programs, Agri-food Partnership of Western Greece Region),
• the work of Western Greece Soil Laboratory (WGSL), presented by Pantelis Barouchas (Professor, President of the Dept. of Agriculture, University of Patras) and Ioannis-Nikolaos Bougiouklis (PhD Candidate, Dept. of Agriculture, University of Patras).

The event was honoured by the presence of representatives of institutions, local government, the business and academic community, professional and social bodies, as well as executives from the market and primary sector, who actively contributed to the open discussion that followed and expressed their support and interest in the project’s next steps and expected results.

The remarkable response and active participation of the public highlighted the importance of information and awareness-raising on issues related to environmental protection and the sustainable management of soil resources.

The event was coordinated by Georgios Rompolas, Head of Commercial & Industrial Affairs Department of the Chamber of Aetoloakarnania, who underlined the importance of the project and of cooperation – both at local and transnational level, in achieving the best possible results for a better future.

The ECOBASE project aspires to contribute to addressing soil degradation through innovative solutions, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of good practices for environmental protection.

Within this framework, it provides innovative tools that support policy makers and farmers in understanding the risks of soil degradation and in implementing effective mitigation strategies.