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AKTI Project and Research Centre, in collaboration with Athienou Municipality, is developing the Athienou Resilience Hub through the European NURISH project, an initiative focused on creating a circular approach to managing organic waste generated in the area.
The project seeks to establish a system that combines agricultural and municipal pruning residues with livestock manure to produce affordable, high-quality compost. The compost will be used to support sustainable farming practices, enrich soil quality, and help tackle land degradation and desertification.
A key feature of the proposed model is the direct involvement of farmers. Producers would contribute organic waste materials and receive finished compost in return, helping reduce disposal costs while lowering the environmental impact of agricultural operations.
The NURISH project is funded by Horizon Europe and brings together 28 partners from 10 countries. The program runs for 54 months and is coordinated by the National Technical University of Athens.
To gather local input, AKTI and Athienou Municipality organized a workshop on May 25 that brought together farmers, livestock breeders, representatives of local authorities, and members of the scientific community. Discussions focused on identifying existing challenges and helping shape the development of the composting system.
Participants expressed support for the creation of a structured composting network, while also drawing attention to issues including compost quality standards, manure handling, collection and treatment expenses, regulatory requirements, financial support measures, and the need for training.
The next phase of the project will involve identifying available organic waste sources across the region, assessing technical and legal requirements, and developing a practical framework for the collection, processing, and reuse of organic waste in Athienou.
