PPC and Open Farm promote sustainable agriculture to students through Carbon Farming Schools

With the participation of 500 students from all levels, the “Carbon Farming Schools” program was completed in 10 schools in Western Macedonia, Megalopoli and Attica, with its support for the 2nd consecutive year. With the aim of experiential education in sustainable agriculture and nutrition, Open Farm and PPC collaborated on the design and implementation of local actions with a positive environmental and social footprint that simultaneously respond to the global and European goals for transition to sustainable development models. CORVERSE As part of the Carbon Farming Schools programme, students and teachers from Kozani, Florina, Megalopolis, Elefsina and Attica participated in information activities. Open Farm’s specialized staff presented the objectives of the programme, highlighting the importance of sustainable agriculture and nutrition, while through practical activities, participants experienced the benefits of sustainable development, carbon agriculture and regenerative agriculture, as they planted more than 3,600 plants, enriched the soil with 16,000 litres (16 cubic meters) of compost and covered more than 1,500 sq.m. of soil with straw to protect it instead of using chemical fertilizers. Having considerable expertise in the design and implementation of experiential learning and non-standard education programmes, Open Farm attempts to bring people into contact in the city with producers in the countryside and the process of food production. Through the Open Farm network, it records and highlights the “open”, visited farms and agricultural processing plants, scattered across various corners of Greece. Through the design and installation of school gardens of Mediterranean, Agro-ecological direction and the development of experiential educational activities, conditions for interaction and cooperation between children are developed with the garden that gives them food and knowledge. CORVERSE PPC’s Sustainable Development Director Mr. Achilles Ioakimidis said: “Sustainable Development begins with education and the Carbon Farming Schools program is an excellent example of how we can inspire young generations to adopt a more balanced way of eating and learning modern methods of regenerating agriculture, which minimise environmental pressures on the ground and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In PPC, we support actions that enhance environmental awareness and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals. We are particularly happy to cooperate with innovative initiatives such as Open Farm, which bring knowledge and experience closer to local communities and commit to continuing to implement corresponding actions in the direction of creating socio-economic shared value with social innovation and environmental protection. Acting responsibly for the benefit of the environment, society and the conservation of natural resources, PPC supports educational actions and initiatives with a positive sign to nature with an emphasis on the areas it operates, within the framework of the sustainable development strategy. With a vision of transforming into an economically and environmentally sustainable, modern, digital company, the PPC Group promotes energy transition to Greece as well as the wider Southeast Europe, through strategic investments and partnerships in Renewable Energy Sources (RES), aiming to create shared value (CSV) for the Company, Society and the Environment.