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.

Κριθάρι Παναγιάς / “Panagias” barley

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.