LEMRACE: Safeguarding the agricultural genetic heritage of Lemnos
With an event held on Saturday, March 22, at the Multipurpose Space “Apothiki” in Myrina, the project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian food system”, concluded its cycle.
The event was attended by over 30 people, including the Deputy Mayor of Lemnos, Mr. Dimitrios Boulotis, who honored the occasion with his presence. He delivered a brief speech, thanking MedINA for its “important work for the island of Lemnos, the local community, and the preservation of its agrifood heritage.”
Danae Sfakianou, agronomist and project manager of LEMRACE, emphasized the importance of producing certified seeds by official maintainers after a local variety is included in the National List of Cultivated Plants. This ensures the variety remains alive, productive, and offers financial benefits to producers.
In her speech, Ms. Parthenopi Ralli, coordinator of the Greek Gene Bank of the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER, spoke about the long-term collaboration between the Greek Gene Bank and local stakeholders and the coordinated efforts for preserving and utilizing local varieties. Mr. Panagiotis Katsaris, agronomist-biotechnologist, head of research and development projects at the Department of Olive and Horticultural Crops of Kalamata, analyzed the technical cultivation practices of fig trees in Greece and discussed the global factors affecting fig production. Lastly, Ms. Paschalina Hatzopoulou, director of research at the Department of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER, presented the most common species of aromatic and medicinal plants of Lemnos and highlighted the importance of their sustainable harvesting.
During the event, 80 seed packets of local Lemnian varieties were distributed for planting and preservation of these species. In addition, cuttings of white and black figs were provided by a local producer to Mr. Katsaris. The cuttings have already been placed in the misting system of the department for rooting and recording their unique characteristics.
It is worth noting that residents of Mytilene, Lesvos with relevant backgrounds were also present at the event, specifically an agronomist-educator and a student from the Agricultural Tourism Vocational School, who engaged in discussions with the speakers and representatives from MedINA, exploring possible future collaborations.
The project LEMRACE aimed at safeguarding the agricultural genetic heritage of Lemnos, and MedINA has worked intensively toward this goal over the past two years. A legacy of the project is the community seed bank "Lemnian Seed Bank," which preserves seeds from 35 local varieties. The bank is “revived” through a network of 22 active maintainers on the island, who cultivate these varieties and redistribute the seeds. A result of the two-year effort is also the submission of documents for the local tomato varieties to the National List of Cultivated Plants.
MedINA aspires that, in the future, additional local varieties will be added to the community seed bank and the National List of Cultivated Plants, and with the development of new collaborations, the phytogenetic wealth of the island will be highlighted and our agrifood heritage preserved.
The project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian food system”, with a budget of €49,750.00, is implemented by the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos and the Greek Gene Bank / Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER, in the framework of the funding programme “NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 2023”, Priority Axis 4: “INNOVATIVE ACTIONS WITH CITIZENS”. The project belongs to the thematic field “A.4. Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity” and is funded by the Green Fund.
LEMRACE: Action for the Agrifood Heritage of Lemnos - Present & Future
After two years of intensive efforts, the project "LEMRACE - Conservation of the plant genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian agrifood system" - an initiative by MedINA- comes to an end. Focusing on the agricultural genetic heritage of Lemnos and the conservation of its phytogenetic resources, LEMRACE has played a crucial role in safeguarding and promoting local traditional varieties as the cornerstone of sustainable agri-food development.
On Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 18:00, the closing event of LEMRACE, "Action for the Agrifood Heritage of Lemnos - Present & Future", will be held at the Multipurpose Space “Apothiki” in Myrina. Representatives from MedINA and ELGO DEMETER will present the results of the project and discuss the future of the agrifood heritage of Lemnos. At the end of the event, local variety seeds will be distributed.
During the implementation of LEMRACE:
- The "Lemnian Seed Bank", a community seed bank, was created, preserving 35 local varieties, with the goal of saving and spreading the island's rich genetic material. Simultaneously, a flexible network of 15 variety conservators was developed, working in coordination with the seed bank.
- Two new dossiers were submitted for the inclusion of local tomato varieties from Lemnos in the National List of Cultivated Plants. These are the elongated Lemnian tomato, proposed to be named "Kokkinogeia," and the cherry tomato "Miloudi!"
- Three training workshops were held on the local varieties of Lemnos, along with three educational activities for students and teachers, enhancing knowledge on the preservation, promotion, and utilization of the island's traditional varieties.
- The standard short supply chain "From Seed to Plate" was developed, utilizing local varieties of "Afkos" and "Aspromitiko" beans. These varieties were incorporated into gastronomic dishes served at three restaurants on Lemnos, bringing together local growers with local chefs.
The event is open to the public and aims to bring together members of the local community and open the discussion about the future of preserving the island's phytogenetic wealth.
The project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian food system”, with a budget of €49,750.00, is implemented by the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos and the Greek Gene Bank / Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER, in the framework of the funding programme “NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 2023”, Priority Axis 4: “INNOVATIVE ACTIONS WITH CITIZENS”. The project belongs to the thematic field “A.4. Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity” and is funded by the Green Fund.
First School Visit to the “Lemnian Seed Bank”
The first visit of students from the second grade of the Agricultural and Food sector of the Vocational Senior High School of Moudros took place at the "Lemnian Seed Bank", on Lemnos, under the supervision of their teacher, Ms. Maria Dervisi. The students were welcomed by Danae Sfakianou, Agronomist at MedINA and the responsible person for the Seed Bank.
During their visit, the students had the opportunity to explore terms such as "Agro-biodiversity" and "Local Varieties," and learn about the importance of preserving and spreading the rich genetic material of the island, as well as agricultural practices that contribute to the overall preservation of biodiversity.
They learned about the seeds of 35 local varieties stored in the Seed Bank, and with great enthusiasm, they participated in the packaging process, contributing to the preparation for the upcoming event marking the completion of LEMRACE project. Additionally, they observed fruits from various tomato varieties and learned how the technical sheet for a variety is completed, in order to include it in the National List of Cultivated Plants. Finally, they used the Seed Bank’s equipment to understand in practice how seeds are cleaned and dried before storage.
The preservation of Lemnos' phytogenetic wealth and the protection of its agricultural genetic heritage concerns not only the current generations but also those of the future!
The creation of the “Lemnian Seed Bank” is part of the MedINA project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the plant genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian agrifood system”, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Greek Gene Bank / Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER and is funded by the Green Fund.
All the taste of Lemnos on your plate!
Food is more than nutrition; it is culture and history. A history that is passed down from generation to generation. On the island of Lemnos, the land whispers its own stories through the flavours of its traditional varieties, cultivated with care for centuries.
Through the LEMRACE project we support traditional flavours, promoting the agrifood heritage of Lemnos! United through the message “From seed to plate”, Lemnian farmers come together with local chefs who are using local seed varieties, incorporating them into authentic culinary dishes. The aim is to promote the use of seeds in modern cuisine, while promoting their conservation and their inscription to the national register of crop varieties.
Aspromytiko bean and afkos, unique varieties of Lemnos, are utilised in restaurants and are promoted through delicious recipes, thus acquiring added value!
To further promote these crops, a promotional brochure on the agrifood heritage of Lemnos was created and placed in three local restaurants, which host recipes with local varieties in their menus. The brochure accompanies the menus of the restaurants Ennoia poch’s in the village of Lychna, I palia mas geitonia in the village of Sardes and Flomari in Gomati beach.
You can see the brochure here.
By embracing these local varieties and flavours, the community of Lemnos contributes to their revival and ensures that they remain a vital part of the food heritage of the island.
The project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian food system”, with a budget of €49,750.00, is implemented by the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos and the Greek Gene Bank / Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DIMITRA, in the framework of the funding programme “NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 2023”, Priority Axis 4: “INNOVATIVE ACTIONS WITH CITIZENS”. The project belongs to the thematic field “A.4. Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity” and is funded by the Green Fund.
Crop landraces: The hidden treasure of Lemnos
Did you know that only 1% of the agricultural land in Greece is cultivated with traditional varieties, also known as crop landraces? While many areas of our country have a wide variety of local cultivated plants, most of them fail to be preserved and are lost over time.
The Community Seed Bank “Kivotos Limniakon Sporon” (Lemnian Seed Bank) was created in the framework of LEMRACE, among other project activities. The seed bank is located in Myrina, Lemnos and ensures the safe conservation of the necessary propagating material, preserving more than 30 local seed varieties, operating under the coordination of the Greek Gene Bank of ELGO DEMETER. At the same time, it supports a network of seed guardians and allows direct access to any interested farmer.
Among the 30 varieties, one can meet the lathouria of Lemnos, Afkos and Lafyri, two of the local varieties of the island that have survived and make up the well-known fava! Afkos [Lathyrus ochrus (L.) DC], with its rich flavour, is cultivated in Karpasi, Atsiki, Moudros and Kaminia. Lafyri [Lathyrus sativus L], sweet in taste, is distinguished by its appearance, which, thanks to its particular colouring, resembles a small stone.
Tomatoes are also an important variety of the island which is kept in the Lemnian Seed Bank. Tomato “Miloudi” [Solanum lycopersicum L.], the juiciest tomato on the island, is planted only once and then grows on its own every year! Its cultivation has been found in Myrina and in the villages of Dafni, Kaspakas, Karpasi, Lychna and Panagia. “Makrosteni” (long-stemmed) tomato [Solanum lycopersicum L.] makes the most delicious spoon sweets, jam, sun-dried tomatoes and sauce! It is an extremely resilient variety whose cultivation has been found in Dafni, Myrina, Agios Dimitrios, Kontopouli and Panagia.
One of the varieties that have been affected by climate change and is threatened with extinction is that of “Gyftofasoulo” [Vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. Gyftofasoulo has a unique taste and is eaten in salad or soup. “Aspromytiko” bean [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a rainfed crop and a unique ingredient for local and non-local chefs alike!
“Panagias” barley is widely cultivated throughout Lemnos and is preferred by most of the island’s farmers, as it offers excellent quality grain and hay. This Lemnian landrace is registered in the National Register of Crop Varieties, following coordinated efforts of MedINA with the Association for Protection of the Environment and Architectural Heritage of Lemnos “Anemoessa”, the Agricultural University of Athens and the agricultural cooperatives of the island.
The efforts for the inscription of all the abovementioned varieties in the National Register of Crop Varieties are intensive, continuous and coordinated, in the hope that they will remain alive and preserve the plant genetic wealth of Lemnos.
The project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the plant genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian agrifood system”, with a budget of €49,750.00, is implemented by the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos and the Greek Gene Bank / Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DIMITRA, in the framework of the funding programme “NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 2023”, Priority Axis 4: “INNOVATIVE ACTIONS WITH CITIZENS”. The project belongs to the thematic field “A.4. Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity” and is funded by the Green Fund.
Vegetables Workshop in Lemnos
The third capacity building workshop for the landraces of Lemnos, this time focusing on vegetables, is approaching! It will complete the series of workshops for the conservation, promotion and utilisation of traditional varieties of Lemnos. The workshop, titled “Traditional Vegetable Varieties: Seed Production and Conservation Techniques”, will take place on Tuesday 30 July at the Apothiki Multipurpose Hall, in Myrina, at 20:00.
We will be joined by Dr. Apostolos Kalyvas, Head of Seed Production and Improvement of Vegetables and other plants, at the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER, with whom we will discuss the selection, seed production and conservation of traditional vegetable varieties.
Lemnos, even today, has a great wealth of local vegetable varieties, which we can preserve for future generations. The scientific and socio-economic value of the island’s landraces is of paramount importance, being the result of centuries of selection, conservation and improvement by farmers.
Participation in the workshop is free of charge and we look forward to sharing our knowledge, thoughts, concerns and suggestions to make the most of this unique treasure of Lemnos!
The vegetables workshop is part of MedINA’s project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian food system”, which is implemented in collaboration with the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER and is funded by the Green Fund.
Almond tree workshop in Lemnos
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.
The landraces of Lemnos become a game at the Bovoleteio Kindergarten of Myrina
“In the very old days, around 10,000 BC, as people were gathering their food, they started learning when plants grew and bore fruit, and so they started to select the seeds and cultivate them.
So, people gradually began to domesticate the plants and went from being gatherers to farmers. Over the years, as farmers selected the best plants and with the help of nature, a great variety of fruits, cereals and vegetables was created!
So, we find ourselves today with the traditional varieties of Lemnos that we need to safeguard and utilize”.
The children at the Bovoleteio kindergarten in Myrina had the opportunity, through a short story, to learn from MedINA’s agronomist Danae Sfakianou, when people first began to cultivate the land and select seeds from the best plants for their next sowings, how we arrived at the current form of wheat from Aegilops, and how today these traditional varieties are in danger of extinction, due to the use of modern, commercial varieties. However, the characteristic flavour of the local varieties, their resilience and all their valuable genetic material is being lost. Furthermore, some modern varieties do not give seeds for the following year, or their seeds have no germination capacity.
The children understood how valuable the traditional varieties of our land are by observing the seeds of each of them. Through the game, they learned about the agricultural cycle of landraces, placing them on the map of Lemnos depending on the season and the area where they are cultivated, while they chose their own seeds to plant at home.
They also listened with keen attention to MedINA’s folklorist, Rafael Giannelis, learning about local customs related to the landraces performed by the farmers to honour the land and its gifts.
This very special activity concluded the educational part of the LEMRACE project.
We would like to thank the school principal, Ms. Marina Rallis, and the kindergarten teachers for their excellent collaboration, their contribution and hospitality.
The project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian food system” is implemented by the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA) and the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER, and is funded by the Green Fund.
Landraces for future generations: an educational activity at the High School of Moudros
In the framework of the LEMRACE project for the conservation of the agricultural genetic heritage of Lemnos, the students of Moudros High School learned first-hand about many Lemnian landraces. MedINA’s agronomist, Danae Sfakianou, visited the school and the students had the opportunity to see rare seeds of Lemnian local varieties, learn why their conservation is important and what are the cultivation practices followed, such as planting distances, sowing season etc.
Among the valuable landraces that the students learned about was Rovi, an extremely rare variety that was systematically cultivated in the past and used to feed the cattle that ploughed the fields. At the same time, they also learned about the varieties Lafyri and Afkos, the lathouria of Lemnos, which are used to make the well-known fava beans.
The activity ended with the planting of landraces in the school grounds, where the students carefully sowed seeds of rovi, bean, chickpea, lupine, afkos, aspromytiko bean and lafyri.
We are most grateful to the school principal, Nikolaos Rigopoulos, for his warm welcome and to teachers Asimenia Hondroudi, Maria Dervisi and Eleftheria Tabaki for their excellent cooperation.
The project “LEMRACE – Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian food system” is implemented by the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA) and the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DEMETER, and is funded by the Green Fund.
Getting to know the local varieties of Lemnos
Lathyrus of Lemnos: Afkos & Lafyri
Lemnos boasts a wide range of local varieties of cultivated plants (landraces), whose history is lost in time. Although several varieties have become extinct over the years due to the abandonment of their cultivation and the introduction of new, “improved” varieties, some of them survive to this day and are considered important plant genetic resources, the protection of which is crucial.
n the framework of the project “LEMRACE - Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos”, MedINA’s team is taking the necessary steps to protect Lemnian varieties and inscribe them in the National Register of Crop Varieties, which is the only institutional way of protecting and saving plant genetic resources in Greece!
Among the species that are being studied and are the subject of LEMRACE are the varieties of lathyrus (lathouri), the plant species from which we make our favorite fava beans!
According to Bebeli & Thanopoulos (2020), the word fava does not refer to a specific species but to the way of cooking crushed legume seeds, and in many parts of Greece several different species are the basic material: in Mani, fava is made from broad beans (Vicia faba), in parts of the Cyclades from peas (Pisum sativum), while in Skyros, Euboea and Karpathos from the Spanish vetchling (Lathyrus clymenum).
The most famous lathyrus of Lemnos is afkos (Lathyrus ochrus (L.) D.C.), which is sown during the months of November - December.
At the same time, however, fava beans in Lemnos are also made from two varieties of lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.), which are less well-known and more sensitive to frosts, being sown in February - March.
The cultivation of lathyrus in Lemnos is reported from the 16th century and more recently, in the 1940s, when it was systematically cultivated in several villages, such as Varos, Roussopouli, Romanou, Karpasi, Plaka, Panagia, etc.
The successful inscription of landraces in the National Register is preceded by a series of actions: from the collection of information on the historical presence of each variety, obtained through interviews with elderly residents of the area, to the thorough examination of bibliographical sources and local historical newspapers.
At the same time, information on their traditional way of cultivation and their morphological characteristics is also essential. The latter in particular requires a large number of morphological measurements during all stages of the plant's development, from the appearance of the cotyledons - the first “leaves” of the plant - to the growth of the fruit and the completion of its biological cycle.
Then, in consultation with the competent authorities, a comprehensive file is submitted for the recognition of the local variety and its inscription in the National Register of Crop Varieties of the Ministry of Rural Development & Food.
This not only helps to officially recognise a landrace at institutional level, but also contributes to its popularisation to the general public, creating the conditions for its wider utilisation by farmers to produce quality products with added value, linked to the history and gastronomic tradition of Lemnos.
The project ”LEMRACE – Conservation of the crop genetic wealth of Lemnos: local varieties for sustainable development of the Lemnian food system”, with a budget of €49,750.00, is implemented by the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos and the Greek Gene Bank / Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of ELGO-DIMITRA, in the framework of the funding programme ”NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 2023”, Priority Axis 4: ”INNOVATIVE ACTIONS WITH CITIZENS”. The project belongs to the thematic field “A.4. Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity” and is funded by the Green Fund.
Sources
Bebeli, P.J. and Thanopoulos, R. (editors) 2020. The plant wealth of Lemnos - A source of prosperity for the local community. MedINA, Athens, Greece.