Greece’s ‘Heavy Industry’ are good food, good environment and good scientists. The combination of these three elements of our social and natural environment are the reason why this little country still exists, despite harsh and often unexpected historic events. But why do these indicators thrive? Is there any correlation between them?

The Natural environment of Greece is ‘polymorphic’. Each corner, each plant, each combination of factors creates a unique landscape. The diversity is so extraordinary, that you cannot find more than few hectares with similarities between them. This uniqueness is a ‘good thing’ and a ‘bad thing’.

The ‘bad’ is that scientists, agriculturists, and similar professions need to have a diversity of deep knowledge to find the best scenario for the farmers. The ‘good’ is that this uniqueness creates a delicious tomato, a high-quality olive oil, and a supreme herbal aroma.

But everything is connected, even between human capital and natural environment. Traditionally in Greece, educational levels in the population are higher than many ‘wealthy’ countries. Additionally, the level of the education provided by many institutions are relatively higher than many more, placing many of Greece’s universities in top 100 in the world. Also, research in Greece takes place at a high level.

Engineers, doctors, biologists, and agriculturists from Greece are preferred by many other countries in Europe and United States, because their studies in Greece were at universities fames for research, education, and innovation. Maybe this favorable comparison of quality in education cannot be easily explained, but it is a fact that education in Greece is totally free. Six years in elementary, three years in Gymnasium (pre-high) school, three years in Lykeio (high school0 are completely free. With your entry – after passing difficult exams – into University, the bachelor’s degree (for four or five years), the master’s (two years) and a PhD (four years) are free. ‘Free’ means hard studies but also a good result. Deeper knowledge of science help the student survive in an international job market and find solutions to complicated problems.

Economic crises, health crises like COVID-19, and more bad luck may come, but having a good foundation, with free high-level education, will generate the human capital necessary to finding the solution to problems. Innovation and hard work in Greece will bring a renaissance, and products and services and produce that are globally unique, like its people.

*The above is not medical advice but mere suggestions for improving your diet. Before reach herbal use you should consult your doctor, especially those who have health issues, are pregnant or are under the age of 6.

Evropi-Sofia Dalampira is an Agriculturist-MSc Botany-Biology and PhD in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural-Environmental Education and Science Communication.