According to the planned activities of the project CULT, was realized first vocational training for medical and aromatic herbs in Thessaloniki, Greece from 27.03-1.04.2016 year. The training is organized by “American Farm School”, from Thessaloniki Greece, and it was attended by 5 representatives from Macedonia and Bulgaria.

“American Farm School”, Thessaloniki is an educational institution that through its program for Adult Education (Center for Life Long Learning – Department of Continuing Education and External Services) carried out accredited professional training of farmers – cultivators of MAP`s in Greece and beyond.

The training presented the current situation in the sector of cultivation of MAP`s in Greece, its role in the national economy and private business, and the role in the development of agricultural production and the protection of national genetic resources to further sustainable exploitation.

The professional part of the training include current issues in preparation for the production of MAP, with a choice of subspecies (varieties) plants adapted to the climate conditions in certain regions of Greece, testing and preparation of soils and production areas, technology setting crop of MAP`s, economic parameters on investment and providing the necessary machinery and equipment for the planned production.

Special attention was dedicated to the production of essential oils from MAP`s, as one of the promising products with broad connectivity to all participants in the chain of the product and organization of Association of producers (associations, clusters), which gives good results.

The quality of the obtained product, compared to similar ones in the world was a very interesting topic for discussion, especially important when talking about branding of products from MAP`s as the ultimate goal. Greek experience here has shown very good examples of progress in conquering the domestic market first, and then the regional and international markets.

Were also organized field visits to production facilities of MAP`s in the region, as well as scientific institutions (National Center for MAP cultivation and gene bank, the state laboratory for analyzing the quality of MAP) that play a huge role in the chain of cultivation of MAP`s.