History and Brief description

The Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment (previously named Department of Agriculture, Crop and Animal Science) was founded in 1984. The first 30 students were registered in the academic year 1988-1989. The Department buildings are located at Fytoko, Nea Ionia, Volos. The Department is an independent, self-administered establishment run by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Department (both elected every two years by the Department members, and representatives of technical and teaching staff members and students) and by the Assembly of Department (consisting of academic staff, as well as representatives of technical and teaching staff members and students).

The Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment cooperates closely with Universities and Institutions in Greece and abroad, by encouraging the exchange of academic staff and students, and by organizing joint meetings and research projects. The Department’s academic curriculum aims at training agronomists and agricultural scientists in the science and technology of plant production and rural environment. Some of the education keystones and research activities of the Department are a) sustainability in practice, by using environment-friendly techniques in plant production, b) advances in food safety and technology, during production and processing, and c) integrated approaches in preservation of agro-ecosystems and sustainable agricultural production. Thus, the Department’s academic profile covers a broad, unique and important area in biological sciences, relevant to agricultural engineering, agronomy, horticulture, landscape ecology and management, food safety and public health awareness and agricultural policy.