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Seven representatives of innovative companies in the meat and meat processing industry were awarded on Friday by Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Athanasios Tsaftaris. The awards were given after the opening ceremony of the pavilion of the Ministry at the specialised international exhibition concerning the breeding, meat and dairy animal farming sector, ZOOTECHNIA 2013, held in Thessaloniki.

The seven winners are:

- Dimitris Dimou, who breeds some of the last 200 cows of the Greek Steppe breed (type "Katherini") and Greek black pig;

- Koutsiofti Farm for enrichment of beef with omega-3 fatty acids;

- Neogal Dairy S.A. for environmentally-friendly and modern production methods;

- BIOGRECO for raising organic chickens;

- Kourellas S.A. for the comprehensive study of a unique self-sufficient production system;

- Nireas Ichthiokaliergies Group for innovation and research in Mediterranean fish farming;

- Hitas Farm that maintains a biogas installation with pig sub-products.

Breeding of a rare Greek cow breed in Kalambaka

Dimitris Dimou's farm is located east of Kalambaka, where he breeds some of the last cows of the rare Greek Steppe breed (type "Katherini"). There are only 200 animals in the country today, compared to more than 200,000 in the '60s. Mr. Dimou also breeds sows of the Greek Black Pig breed and goats and sheep of autochthonous breeds. The farm plays a crucial role in saving the "Katherini" breed of the Greek Black Pig. Therefore, in the past it was awarded by the International Organisation Slow Food for its contribution to the preservation of agricultural biodiversity on the planet. Dimou also produces small amounts of biologically pure meat.

Beef with omega-3 fatty acids

Over the past two years, Koutsiofti Farm has been carrying out a pioneering research programme together with the Research Committee of the Aristotle University in Thessaloniki entitled "Experimental Application of Technology for the Production of Omega-3 Beef, High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin E and Natural Antioxidants After the Addition of Special Additives in Forages." The results showed that beef could be enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, thereby meeting modern requirements for food of high biological and nutritional value. The innovative product of the research was awarded a diploma for exploration by the Organisation for Industrial Property, and Koutsiofti has a contract with the Research Committee of the Aristotle University for the commercial utilisation of the research results. Today, the farm produces and offers this innovative product called "Aroma".

Water for irrigation from dairy products

Over the past two years, Neogal Dairy S.A. from the town of Drama has made investments amounting to 5 million euro for the construction of a 500 KW photovoltaic installation, update of the automation system, control and data recording during production, as well as new equipment in the dairy. A special system for the processing of dairy products was also implemented, which makes them 20% thicker by throwing water away. This water will be used for irrigation in the summer.

Eco-oriented production of chickens

Today, BIOGRECO produces 70% of the Greek organic chickens. The company combines scientific knowledge with business experience. It has a modern slaughterhouse, its own distribution network and an automated factory for biological animal feed. The company respects the environment, does not produce waste since all the waste goes to processing.

Modifiers-free forages

In 1996, Kourellas S.A. was the first company to produce organic products in Greece, despite the lack of relevant legislation. Today, it is the market leader for organic and traditional products exported worldwide. A complete self-sufficient production system followed. It has a plant that functions as a consulting centre for livestock feed. Its forages are GMO free-certified, i.e. its products do not contain genetically modified ingredients.

Innovators in the production of Mediterranean fish

Nireas Ichthiokaliergies Group is the largest company in the world in the sector of Mediterranean fish farming and ranks first in Greece in terms of food products export. It has facilities in three countries (Greece, Turkey and Spain), exports its products to 40 countries and employs 1,200 people. Its sales exceed 200 million euro, and exports - 150 million euro. Nireas is a leading company in the studies of Mediterranean fish farming. The programme for genetic improvement of Sea Bass and Sea Bream has been carried out since 1990. The company also invests systematically in a study on new protocols of breeding.

A biogas installation from pig sub-products

Hitas Farm is a family enterprise that has been producing pork since 1969. Located in an area of 4,000 acres in Romia, near Filipiada, it includes a farm for 2,000 sows, an industrial slaughterhouse with a capacity of 120 pigs per hour, that is 50,000 pigs per year, and a processing system of sub-products from the slaughterhouse. They have also built a 980 KW biogas installation, which works with leftovers from the slaughterhouse.