Dimitrios P. Petropoulos is a graduate of the School of Industrial and Agricultural Production, majoring in Economics and Management of Agricultural Production at the Higher Economic Institute – Karl Marx Sofia. He received a State Doctorate in Economics from the University of National and World Economy – Sofia. For the period 1999-2006 he taught as a Scientific Associate at the Technological Educational Institute of Kalamata. In 2006 he was elected to the rank of Assistant Professor with the subject “Agricultural Economics”. For the period 2014-2016 he was a representative of the Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese and Vice President of the Development Partnership “AGRO MESSINIA”. He has worked for 15 years as a Business Consultant and has prepared dozens of economic and technical studies and business plans. He is the Chairman of the Organizing and Scientific Committee of the International Conference of Development and Economy and participates as a member of the editorial team in the following scientific journals: Iore Journal of Agro & Crop Science, Business & Entrepreneurship Journal, Sustainability. He has published more than 40 scientific articles in Greek, English, Bulgarian and Russian and has presented his work in over 50 Conferences, has published a book in Greek “Introduction to the Agricultural Economy” and has participated as a speaker in several two-day workshops in Peloponnese region. In 2017 he was elected Vice Rector of the Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese. Today he is a Professor of “Agricultural Economics” at the Department of Agriculture of the University of Peloponnese, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Food Science and Director of the “Laboratory of Agricultural Economics, Development, and Entrepreneurship”.

His research interests are: Analysis of structural characteristics of the agricultural sector, Technical-Economic analysis of agricultural holdings, Assessment of the implemented policies for the strengthening of the agricultural sector, The effects of the enlargement of the EU. in the agricultural sector, Assessment of the mobility of agricultural land and the factors that create it, Assessment of productive relations in the agricultural sector, Agricultural policy and the effects on the structure and economy of agricultural holdings, the use of natural resources and the quality of the environment.

email : d.petropoulos@uop.gr

Eleni E. Anastasopoulou is an Agronomist specialising in Food Science and Technology at the School of Agriculture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). She holds a M.Sc. degree in Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (UoA). During her studies, she received a scholarship from the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences of the UoA, to participate in the “Entrepreneurship in Practice” course. She excelled in the programme by presenting a business plan to a distinguished panel consisting of investment funds and market and business executives. Currently, a dedicated Ph.D. candidate in agri-food entrepreneurship at the School of Agriculture and Food of the University of Peloponnese (UoP), she is set to complete her doctoral studies by early 2024. She specialises in sustainable agri-food entrepreneurship, understanding national and European policies and analysing socio-economic crises. Her research efforts also focus on improving the quality of life in rural communities.

Her professional journey encompasses diverse roles within both public and private sectors, aligning with agriculture and pharmaceutical products. Notably, she has served as an external collaborator at the Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA “ELGO-DIMITRA,” effectively monitoring and managing a portfolio of around 30 national, European, and co-funded projects.

Her peer-reviewed articles have been published in esteemed scientific journals including Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Springer, Elsevier, and MDPI. She has also contributed to a book chapter in an edited volume. She has actively participated in international conferences focusing on Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and Innovation, held across the UK, Scotland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Greece. Her commitment further extends to her involvement as a researcher in the implementation of various European programmes.

Email: eeanasta@gmail.com

Mr Zisis Mandanas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Financial and Auditing Sciences from the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Kalamata and a Master’s degree in Applied Economics and Econometrics from the University of Macedonia. He is a PhD candidate at the University of Peloponnese, with a research topic focused on “The Distribution of Subsidies within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Greece and their contribution to rural income.” His studies have been presented at international conferences and published in international scientific journals with peer review. Since 2010, he has been active in the private sector in the field of market research services and analysis of complex business problems using both quantitative and qualitative tools. He collaborates with New York College since 2023, where he teaches Statistics and Research Methodology. He has also worked in post-secondary education, teaching courses in Statistics, Research Methodology, and Applied Economics.

Email: zisismandanas@gmail.com

George N. Kyriakopoulos is a graduate of the Department of Economics of Sciences of the NATIONAL KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS of the School of Law, Economics and Political Sciences. Within the framework of the Postgraduate Studies Program of the University of Peloponnese, he received the Postgraduate Diploma of Specialization with the Title “Accounting and Finance” from the Department of Accounting and Finance of the University of Peloponnese. He has worked in the Deposit and Loan Fund and during his military service he was in the 94th Central Army Fund as a Reserve Finance Officer with the capacity of Accounting Section Chief. For the period 2003-2010 he worked in the Management of European Programs – Development of the Chambers. Since 2010, he has been working at the Messinia Chamber of Commerce and was appointed Head of Directorate of the Messinia Chamber, a position he holds until today. He has participated in numerous seminars as well as training and further training programs of the National Center for Administration and Self-Government. He has presented as a rapporteur more than 40 subsidized European Programs. Today he is the Head of the Directorate of the Messinia Chamber and a PhD Student of the Department of Agriculture of the School of Agriculture and Food.

His PhD refers to and analyzes the contribution of subsidized European Programs to Development – Competitiveness and Innovation for the Peloponnese Region in the Manufacturing sector in the period 2000 – 2020. It analyzes their contribution to the modernization of businesses. It evaluates the absorptiveness of the Programs as well as their contribution and the effects of the approved investment plans, in areas of operation, internal administration, export department, introversion of businesses, innovative elements for their development and finally for the protection of the environment.

Email: g.kyriakopoulos@go.uop.gr