Kythera

The island of Kythera in Greece, also known as Tsirigo by the locals, lies at the crossroads of 3 seas and is known as the birthplace of the Goddess Aphrodite. Our island is one of the largest islands in Greece and is characterised by a large number of small settlements, with a total population of around 4000. Our greatest expectation is to keep our youth in the area, by creating the appropriate conditions for young and active people to live and work on the island. Our local economy is based predominantly on tourism and agriculture but also other areas such as trades and services, including education and health. We would like to promote agricultural and environmental sustainability on the island by introducing new technologies. The goal is to enhance the production of local products, mainly olive-oil production, honey, as well as aromatic and medicinal plants, while promoting and preserving Kythera’s landscapes, ecosystems and biodiversity. We also want to increase quality tourism, by supporting alternative forms of tourism, through the promotion of cultural heritage, the natural beauty of the island as well as the local products. Our local community is very strong with a well-preserved local identity consisting of various local associations and organisations. Through our participation in the Smart Rural 21 project we are hoping to gain new ideas and inspiration for developing a strategic plan for implementing smart village approaches.


Village strategy :

Kythera village strategy


News


Smart Rural Journey

Follow along with our Village Roadmap here :

Kythera developed a feedback and scientifically documented precision farming and certification system for olive cultivation. Such extended use of smart farming solutions is expected to support agricultural and environmental sustainability on the island, enhancing the production of local products, mainly olive-oil production. It will also provide complementary expertise to the ‘Terra Kytheria’ programme which supports the revitalisation of the island’s primary sector.



Videos

9th Smart Rural Café, Kythera (8 April 2022)

Aikaterini Kasimati (Agricultural University of Athens) and Rigas Zafeiriou (Kytherian Foundation for Culture & Development) talk about how Kythera Island has been transforming into a full-fledged adventure destination by employing an integrated approach, including Terra Kythera brand and Kytherian Olive oil as PDO, the island’s sustainable tourism development, the INCREAte approach and innovations (culture and nature) and more…

Kytherian olive grove data collection

Data collection from the island’s olive groves is carried out within the Smart Rural 21 project and aims to expand the expertise of the ’Terra Kytheria’ programme which promotes the local olive oil, supports producers and the economic and social revitalisation of the primary sector of Kythera.


Resources :

Summary Report – Terra Kytheria data collection
Agricultural University of Athens ( 09/2021 )
A report on the data collection process of the feedback and scientifically documented precision farming and certification system for olive cultivation, carried out by the Terra Kytheria programme within the framework of the Smart Rural 21 project. Such extended use of smart farming solutions is expected to support agricultural and environmental sustainability on the Kythera island, enhancing local produce, mainly olive oil production. It will additionally provide complementary expertise to Terra Kytheria which supports the revitalisation of the island’s primary sector.
Language : English
Kythera Island as a Sustainable Destination for the Conservation of Natural & Cultural Heritage
Rigas Zafeiriou - Kytherian Foundation for Culture & Development ( 18/10/2022 )
A presentation on Smart Rural 21 selected community Kythera’s (Greece) experience with conservation of natural and cultural heritage. The presentation was given in the workshop “How to preserve natural, cultural and architectural heritage while entering a modern age (including dealing with mass tourism)?” at the Smart Rural 21 project’s Final Conference of 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot, Poland.
Language : English
Kythera’s Smart Village journey
Dimitris Bogiatzis , Aikaterini Kasimati ( 17/10/2022 )
A presentation on Kythera’s smart journey, including how the island got engaged with the ‘Smart Village’ concept, and the ‘smart’ actions carried out and plans for the future. The presentation was given at the Smart Rural 21 project’s Final Conference of 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot, Poland.
Language : English
Kythera Smart Action and the involvement of its stakeholders
Aikaterini Kasimati - Agricultural University of Athens ( 27/01/2022 )
A presentation given at the third Smart Rural 21 regional workshop on Kythera’s (Greece) Smart Village Strategy and the involvement of the community in related smart actions, as one of the project’s 21 selected villages.
Language : English
Summary Highlights of the Smart Village Strategy of Kythera (Greece)
( 12/2020 )
The Summary Highlights of the Smart Village Strategy of Kythera has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Language : English
Kythera Trails
Dimitris Bogiatzis - LAG of Attica ( 27/10/2020 )
A presentation provided at the 1st Smart Village Academy of the Smart Rural 21 project by Kythera (one of the selected 21 communities) on their digital tourism trail initiative.
Language : English

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