Last November, the Mediterranean connection between Malta and Greece grew stronger through a week-long staff exchange as part of EXCEL4MED!
From 24-28 November 2025, our partners from the Malta Food Agency (MAFA) visited EKPIZO in Athens, exploring Greece’s consumer protection, food safety and agricultural systems, while sharing experiences to enhance collaboration across the region.
Day 1 – Exploring EKPIZO’s role in consumer protection
The exchange kicked off at EKPIZO headquarters, where Eleni Alevritou and Amalia Altinou introduced the organisation’s mission, structure and ongoing work to MAFA representatives, Emma Cutajar and Josephine Schembri.
For MAFA, it was a chance to understand how a well-established consumer association operates day-to-day and contributes to informed decision-making and fair practices in Greece.
Day 2 – Insights from the Hellenic Food Authority (EFET)
A joint visit to EFET brought MAFA and EKPIZO closer to Greece’s national food safety authority.
During the visit, EFET delivered detailed presentations from its Consumer Protection, Food Safety, and Risk Assessment and Nutrition Directorates, covering topics that resonate across the Mediterranean, including:
Monitoring PFAS in freshwater fish and implications for public health
Reducing salt content in bread
Addressing trans and saturated fats in foods
Participating in EU discussions on fortified foods
Promoting front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) for informed consumer choices
Leading the Safe2Eat campaign, a science-based initiative helping consumers make safer choices
MAFA also learned about enforcement strategies, inspection planning and approaches to food fraud complaints. It was a deep dive into how data-driven regulation ensures food safety and consumer protection.
Day 3 – Learning from agricultural cooperatives at ETHEAS
Next, our partners visited the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Greece (ETHEAS).
MAFA and EKPIZO explored how Greek cooperatives are structured and supported, followed by discussions on agricultural practices, challenges for producers and areas for potential collaboration.
The session offered practical insights into the realities of Mediterranean agriculture, complementing the regulatory and consumer-focused discussions from earlier in the week.
Day 4 – Academic exchange at the University of Athens
The exchange continued at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where MAFA met with EXCEL4MED coordinator, Prof. Vasilis Valdramidis, and Dr. Styliani Roufou.
This meeting reinforced the connection between research and practical implementation, highlighting how knowledge sharing fuels project impact.
Day 5 – Concluding the exchange and networking
The final day included a debriefing and planning session at EKPIZO, summarising key takeaways and preparing for EKPIZO’s reciprocal visit to Malta.
The staff exchange achieved EXCEL4MED goals on multiple levels:
Cross-border cooperation between partner organisations was reinforced
Understanding of consumer protection and food safety systems in Greece was enhanced
Practical insights into regulatory, academic and agricultural frameworks were gained
Knowledge transfer across complementary fields of expertise was fostered
Support for project dissemination, policy engagement and capacity-building objectives was strengthened
This activity exemplifies EXCEL4MED’s commitment to creating a connected Mediterranean ecosystem where shared knowledge and collaboration empower researchers, managers, stakeholders, and authorities to advance sustainable and safe food systems.
