=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-3293/paper87
|storemode=property
|title=AgriDiverCluster: An Innovative Cluster for the Utilization of Greek Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3293/paper87.pdf
|volume=Vol-3293
|authors=Georgia Koutouzidou,Athanasios Ragkos,Ioannis Ganopoulos,Eleni Maloupa,Katerina Grigoriadou
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/haicta/KoutouzidouRGMG22
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==AgriDiverCluster: An Innovative Cluster for the Utilization of Greek Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3293/paper87.pdf
AgriDiverCluster: An Innovative Cluster for the Utilization of
Greek Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources
Georgia Koutouzidou 1, Athanasios Ragkos 2, Ioannis Ganopoulos 1, Eleni Maloupa 1 and
Katerina Grigoriadou 1
1
Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA, P.O. Box
60458, Thermi, Thessaloniki, 570 01, Greece
2
Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA, Terma Alkmanos,
Athens, 115 28, Greece
Abstract
The last fifteen years, policy-makers deal with the importance of developing policy
frameworks for innovative collaboration systems. The Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic
Resources of Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA took the initiative, as a facilitator,
to create a vertical cluster for the sustainable exploitation of Greek flora and the production of
natural products, consisting of fourteen companies and nine cooperatives (representing more
than 10,000 farmers) and other research institutes and universities.
The aim of this study is to indicate a rational way of creating a vertical cluster and the SWOT
analysis in which could be based, focused on five important elements for the - management of
genetic resources: a) protection of biodiversity and genetic resources, b) sustainable utilization
of the biodiversity and genetic resources of the country, with emphasis on the species that can
play a special functional role in human and animal nutrition, c) support and development of
enterprises, active in various ways on value chains of agri-food sector, through the transfer of
knowledge and training, -by carrying out joint research programs, product promotion actions
and utilization of common infrastructure, d) collaboration with similar clusters in Greece and
abroad and e) gradual transformation of the current conventional production process into a
process of intensive knowledge, innovation and high technology. The final result is the
extroversion of the sector’s enterprises, with the ultimate goal of developing new products of
high value, with international competitive advantages and export potential in European and
world markets.
Keywords 1
SWOT analysis, industrial modernization, innovative products, Greek native flora
1. Introduction
In the modern globalized and borderless food market, the competition has changed. This competition
is expressed in terms of cost, quality, speed, flexibility and innovation of products and services
provided, thus reinforcing the need to develop modern innovation collaboration systems. As the
innovation activity increases, the need in increasing the marketing activity in order to ensure the market
readiness to consuming new products grows as well [1]. Collaborative innovation systems are key to
entrepreneurship and R&D activities, as they combine resources and knowledge to enable their
members to cooperate on common strategies and activities towards their mutual benefit – especially of
small and medium enterprises. To increase the innovation activity, but also to overcome obstacles, such
Proceedings of HAICTA 2022, September 22–25, 2022, Athens, Greece
EMAIL: koutouzidoug@gmail.com (A. 1); ragkos@elgo.gr (A. 2); giannis.ganopoulos@gmail.com (A. 3); maloupa@bbgk.gr (A. 4);
grigokat@outlook.com (A. 5)
ORCID: 0000-0002-6077-0504 (A. 1); 0000-0002-7247-6118 (A. 2); 0000-0001-7967-5702 (A. 3); 0000-0001-5754-3127 (A. 4); 0000-
0002-8000-9982 (A. 5)
©️ 2022 Copyright for this paper by its authors.
Use permitted under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
CEUR Workshop Proceedings (CEUR-WS.org)
440
as climate changes, reduction of pesticides and sustainable use of resources, clusters can facilitate the
link between research and knowledge for members and associator’s.
Clusters defined as groups of firms, related economic actors and institutions that are located near each
other and have reached a sufficient scale to develop specialized expertise, services, resources, suppliers
and skills [2,3] They bring together businesses and potentially other relevant entities in order to pursue
common goals relating to better research opportunities, increased marketability of products, resolution
of structural issues and any other objective which can be hard to achieve by one firm due to small size
and limited resources. This short paper provides an outline of the process of establishing
AgriDiverCluster in Greece, which is a collaborative innovation system, working as a cluster, bringing
together companies and research institutes specializing in the sustainable exploitation Greek
biodiversity and the production of natural products.
2. Creating Process of AgriDiverCluster
The Greek plant biodiversity (national phytogenetic resources) is particularly rich (6,764 native
species and subspecies) and of unique identity (22% of indigenous endemic plants, found nowhere else).
These species are useful and valuable in various ways (aromatic-pharmaceutical-cosmetic-dye
properties, agro-food interest, floricultural-ornamental value, felled species, etc.) [4]. According to the
priorities of the European Union, which place research and innovation at the core of the future European
strategy, the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources (IPBGR) of Hellenic Agricultural
Organization-DIMITRA took the initiative, as a facilitator, to create a vertical cluster for the sustainable
exploitation of Greek flora and the production of natural products, consisting of fourteen companies
and nine cooperatives (representing more than 10,000 farmers) and other research institutes and
universities named AgriDiverCluster. The AgriDiverCluster aims to create new roadmaps directed
towards the valorization of biodiversity and the development of natural products, as well as improving
the interconnection between research and entrepreneurship at European level. AgriDiverCluster, as a
vertical cluster, consists of all or part of the successive stages of production from upstream to
downstream and is composed of technical relationships [5,6], consisting of enterprises, which are active
in different links of the value chain of natural products, The common characteristic of all participating
entities is their significant activity in sectors relating to the sustainable exploitation of Greek flora
Partnerships through this cluster focus on creating joint actions, investment plans and on a sustainable
relationship for participating in common priority areas of smart specialization linked to industrial
modernization.
In order to ensure the smooth process of creating a collaborative innovation cluster with the main
mission and priority of the development prospects for the production of Greek products with a distinct
identity and certification, training, communication and co-development processes between the members
were initially followed and alongside a SWOT Analysis was realized. A bottom-up approach was
proposed [7], picked by a common forum for communication and exchange of views between actors
and included 1. identification of the willingness of entrepreneur to participate, e.g. by performing
SWOT, 2. cost-benefit analyses, through a future business plan and 3. identification of priorities and
directions.
3. Results and Discussion
The research and development activities on which AgriDiverCluster focuses are in accordance to
the Nagoya protocol [8]:
1. Protection of the national biodiversity and phytogenetic resources.
2. Sustainable utilization of the national biodiversity and phytogenetic resources, focusing on
species that can play a distinctive functional role in human and animal nutrition (native aromatic
/ medicinal plants, traditional fruit varieties, small fruits, etc.)
3. Support and development of enterprises active on value chain of the agri-food sector, through
knowledge transfer and targeted training, but also through the creation of networks for
dissemination of information and interaction between cluster participants, by carrying out joint
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research projects, undertaking common actions of product promotion and utilization of
common infrastructure.
4. Collaboration with similar clusters in Greece and abroad. Collaborative innovation clusters are
key players in entrepreneurship and research and development, providing a significant boost to
competitiveness and innovation by playing a role in identifying, designing and implementing
policies that often support job creation, development and investments.
5. Extroversion and gradual transformation of the current conventional production process into a
process of intensive knowledge, innovation and high technology while promoting/enhancing
the extroversion of the sector’s enterprises, with the ultimate goal of developing new products
of high value, with international competitive advantages and export potential in European and
world markets.
The need to outline the problems and weaknesses faced by the business sector in relation to Greek
biodiversity is demonstrated. On this basis, using simple established tools research, such as SWOT
analysis, were presented briefly the main characteristics of AgriDiverCluster indicating a framework
within can be examined which the impact of exogenous factors on the creation and improvement of the
functioning of this specific innovation collaboration system [9]. A classic SWOT analysis (Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats Analysis) is usually considered as a good start for further
Strategic Planning efforts and analysis.
The carving of any strategy presupposes the understanding of the relations between the members of
the AgriDiverCluster, but also of the relations with its external factors. At this point the shot analysis
played a decisive role. The application of SWOT analysis assists the strategic planning process [10],
describes the existing situation and examines the advantages and weaknesses concerning the cluster as
well as the opportunities and threats that exist and reflect factors of its external environment. [11,12].
Therefore, the SWOT analysis (table 1) approach is intended to:
• determine the comparative advantages/Strengths that distinguish AgriDiverCluster and
highlight the strategies that must be taken to secure it.
• identify any Weaknesses recorded in existing cluster and address their causes
• investigate the Opportunities that are expected to arise for the members and
• highlight the Threats that are expected to occur and to take appropriate measures for future
consequences.
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Table 1
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of AgriDiverCluster
Strengths Weaknesses
1. Strong cooperation between the wider public 1. Lack of time of the involved people and
sector, research organizations and enterprises members for the cluster
2. Special interest and resources from IPBGR for 2. Differences in member sizes – enterprises
the establishment of the cluster 3. Decreased interest from some enterprises
3. IPGRB plays the role of facilitator and it is an 4. Lack of human resources by some initial
important link for its members members for active participation in cluster
4. Intense and sustained interest from someone 5. Business culture of non-cooperation and
members to establish the cluster consequently absence of experiences from
5. Participation of a relatively large number of respective collaborations
businesses in the sector, originating from 6. Limited financial possibilities of very small
different size and places in the value chain enterprises - members
6. Geographical dispersion of members
7. Acts as an intermediary agent for
collaborations with other clusters in Greece and
the EU
8. Importance of Greek biodiversity, as a link of
potential members
9. Biodiversity and research on it
10. Growing trends in local cultivation varieties
11. Rise in the production of innovators natural
products
12. Need for modernization and alignment with
European and international practices of
partnerships for benefit entrepreneurship
Opportunities Threats
1. Cooperation between enterprises and 1. Gradual withdrawal of members due to
institutes reduced interest, or opportunistic treatment
2. Possibilities and context of cooperation with 2. Inability to find common ground and vision, or
others Greek, European or international clusters potential membership conflicts
3. Access to European funding programs 3. Failure to build relationships and trust issues
4. Increase funding for initiatives cluster in the between members
new period 2021-2027 4. Failure to achieve partnership
5. Modern trends in nutrition 5. Little availability of opportunities funding in
6. Business networking with other value chains the initial phase
(e.g. tourism) 6. Financial distress of members, particular in
7. The objectives of the new CAP and the very small enterprises
European Green Agreement, which are aligned 7. Ensuring the equal participation of members
with AgriDiverCluster 8. Possible changes in the political agenda
8. The EU Biodiversity Strategy 9. Incomplete National Policies for biodiversity
9. Possibility of institutional intervention in 10. Bureaucratic cluster establishment
national and also European level procedures
10. Increasing research initiatives in European 11. Extension of the covid19 pandemic
and world level 12. Uncertain economic environment
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4. Conclusion
Significant development prospects for the production of Greek natural products with identity and
possibilities of authentication still remain unused, while at research level is achievable. This gap comes
to be covered, in part, by the creation of the innovation collaboration system AgriDiverCluster. The
cluster brings together, for the first time, enterprises and their representatives from Greece to exchange
experiences and collaborate on issues related to biodiversity and plant genetic resources. The specific -
study made to record the initial process for the creation of an innovation collaboration system, using as
a first step the SWOT analysis. The SWOT analysis - provided the material for the members to drew
and to better understand the level of cooperation and mutual assistance, both among themselves and
with other carriers and clusters.
5. Acknowledgements
This research has been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the European
Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship
and Innovation, under the call "Innovation Clusters/ 1st call: Facilitator (Acronym: AgriDiverCluster,
project code: ΓΓ1CL-0057916).
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