Securing the Future of Mastic Gum Trees in Greece

We are pleased to announce the successful implementation of the public dissemination event titled “Cultivating the Future of Mastiha: Education, Research & Innovation”, which took place on Friday, November 7, 2025, in Chios.

During the event, the implementation team presented the program’s progress to date, highlighting key achievements and demonstrating how the program’s network has effectively facilitated the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and vital information—both among mastic producers and between producers and the scientific community.

The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which participants—primarily mastic growers—shared questions, concerns, and perspectives about the future of mastic cultivation. Discussions focused on innovation, sustainable development opportunities, and the long-term prospects of the sector.

The successful organization of this event underscored the importance of collaboration between researchers, growers, and institutional partners, reaffirming the shared commitment to strengthening the mastic cultivation sector through education, research, and innovation.

As previously announced, the disruption to field experiments caused by the 2024 floods necessitated an extension of the program. Thanks to the generous support of The Hellenic Initiative (THI), the program will continue through March 2026, allowing for the repetition of field experiments and the delivery of additional training modules developed in collaboration with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association.

We look forward to continuing the program’s activities throughout 2026, further supporting the resilience and sustainability of this unique agricultural sector.

Your support remains essential. By standing with us, you enable mastic growers to receive the training, tools, and scientific guidance needed to secure a strong and sustainable future for mastic cultivation on Chios.

Thank you for being part of this journey!

Following the devastating floods that struck Chios in September 2024, mastic-producing areas suffered significant damage, resulting in an estimated 40% decrease in mastiha production. Due to the extent of the damage, training activities were temporarily suspended until December 2024, marking a three-month hiatus.

Despite these setbacks, the program resumed successfully and continues to support mastic growers across the region. However, the field experiments originally planned as part of the project were heavily disrupted. In response, New Agriculture New Generation, in collaboration with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association, proposed a necessary extension of the program to March 2026.

This extension has been made possible thanks to the generous support of The Hellenic Initiative (THI). Their contribution is instrumental in enabling us to restore the experimental activities and deliver additional training modules aimed at strengthening the resilience and knowledge of mastic growers.

Next Steps:

• A coordination session will be held among the implementation team, scientific partners, and local farm leaders to evaluate disrupted experimental work and plan for its continuation in the appropriate cultivation period.

• A public dissemination event will be organized to officially announce the program’s extension and share progress with the local community and stakeholders.

• A new training module is under development, focused on the fundamental principles of mastic cultivation. It will incorporate contributions from expert trainers already involved in the program.

• Additional theoretical training sessions will be delivered, and field experiments will be repeated as conditions allow.

We remain dedicated to empowering mastic growers and supporting the long-term resilience of this unique agricultural sector. The program’s extension ensures that both training and research goals can be fully achieved despite the challenges faced.

We invite you to support this important work, whether by spreading the word, or contributing in any way you can. Together, we can help secure a more sustainable and thriving future for mastic cultivation on Chios.

Thank you once again for standing with us!