The second capacity building workshop for the landraces of Lemnos, comes in the heart of summer and focuses on almond trees! It is with great pleasure that MedINA, in collaboration with the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER, invite you to the workshop “Almond trees: Good cultivation techniques and propagation”, which will take place on Saturday, July 20 at 20:00 at the Galiouris Hall and on Sunday, July 21 at the Karanikolas Estate (1st km Myrina – Therma road) at 09:00.

We will be honoured with the presence of Dr. Ioannis Manthos, Scientific Researcher on Nut Trees at the Department of Deciduous and Fruit Trees of the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER. His research activity focuses on the cultivation of Nut Trees (walnut, pistachio, chestnut, almond) and, more specifically, on new cultivation techniques (irrigation, fertilisation, etc.) and harvesting techniques, as well as on postharvest management of the fruits, in order to improve their productivity and quality. He also specialises in the study and evaluation of commercial and indigenous varieties and populations of Nut Trees species and in the creation of new improved varieties.

Almond tree cultivation was one of the most important in Lemnos until the 1980s, providing a significant income to the local producers. Even today, these trees provide large quantities of fruit without any care. Part of this production can meet the needs of both the local market (consumers, visitors, etc.) and the island’s confectioners, who use the almonds as a base for traditional sweets such as almond buns and ‘venizelika’. The best known varieties are the ‘karydaki’, ‘afrato’ and ‘papoutsa’ and there are several almond groves on the island that can be restored to production.

Participation in the two-day workshop is free of charge and the topics include:
• the purpose of pruning and maintaining the shape of trees in productive almond groves
• the importance of shaping pruning in young almond trees
• plant protection, main tree pests and diseases
• the propagation of the trees and the variety and indicative fertilisation recommendations

Together we will make good use of the treasure of Lemnian local varieties and we will co-create value-added landmarks!

The almond tree workshop is part of the project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian food system”, and the second in a series of workshops for the conservation, promotion and utilisation of traditional varieties of Lemnos. It is implemented by MedINA and the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER, funded by the Green Fund and held under the auspices of the Municipality of Lemnos.