RESEARCH

The R&D department cooperates with Research Institutions, Universities and also with Companies in the framework of research programs self financed or co financed by HUMOFERT SA, the Greek State, the European Union and other international organizations.

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Even though the main principle for us is "RESEARCH is not limited", the thematic areas of research that interest HUMOFERT SA are summarized below. Naturally the R&D department is always willing to permeate in other scientific fields as long as these are combined with the object, goal and interests of the company.

Farming

• Precision agriculture
• Organic farming
• Applications of Green Technologies in the primary sector
• Utilization of the biotechnology for the sustainable production and management of natural capital
• Utilization of agricultural by-products, sub-products and other relevant raw materials for the production of high added value products

Livestock

• Organic livestock
• Utilization of the biotechnology for the sustainable production and management of marine and animal capital
• Utilization of animal by-products and other relevant raw materials for the production of high added value products

Biotechnology

• Development of tissue culture protocols of species which are difficult to propagate by conventional methods.
• Production of healthy in vitro propagating material.
• Production of secondary variables using cell cultures and microorganisms.
• Production of new genetic material of plants genetically engineered for the enhancement or integration of new characteristics such as: improvement of the qualitative characteristics and the nutritional value, resistance to low temperatures and drought, resistance to pests, diseases and herbicides.
• Genotypic characterization of animal populations. Introduction of genotypes resistant to pathogens (e.g. Prions) for improving/maintaining health. Transfer of pathogens in other species for the study of genetic barriers to species level (species barrier).
• Incorporation of bioinformatics / computing techniques in modeling biological processes. Creation of new databases, particularly in the environmental sector.
• Functional genomics, proteomics and metabolomic research, elucidation of genetic and epigenetic control mechanisms linking genotype-phenotype.
• Structural genomics and structural proteomics for the clarification of the mechanism of macromolecular proteinaceous objectives or proteinaceous complexes involved in one or more metabolic pathways of biotechnological and medical interest.
• Methodology development for the control and the certification of genetically modified plants.
• Technology development for the control of seeds and propagating material: identification of wild populations, traditional varieties and propagating material, quality control of seeds and propagating material.
• Development of molecular markers and molecular plant breeding: recognition of natural genotypes with molecular markers, utilization in the conventional improvement, drawing of genetic maps.
• Evaluation of genetic resources and biodiversity by preserving the existing and creating new infrastructure like: ex-situ national germplasm banks and animal reference chapter.
• Molecular imprinting of the biodiversity of secondary metabolism of aromatic and medicinal plants.
• Imprinting of chemodiversity of Greek plants and exploration of the insecticide and bactericide action of their main components.
• Imprinting of the biodiversity of the Greek territory.
• Isolation and characterization of important genes, characterization of microbial populations directly from environmental samples or food samples without previous cultivation in nutrient media.
• Imprinting of the primary molecular mechanisms of plant resistance to economically significant plant pests.

Environment

• Development of technologies environmentally friendly and methods for management / utilization of agricultural, industrial and urban solid / liquid waste and greenhouse gases in order to reduce the environmental footprint and/or the production of new high added value products.
• Climate, Climate variability and climate change, natural hazards  – disasters
• Environmental Intelligence
• Sustainable development, management and valuation of ecosystems and natural capital in Greece

Foods

• Healthy diet: development of products and services
• Development of high value-added food and new products in order to meet specific needs and preferences
• Applications of Green Technologies in the Food Industry 

Pharmaceutical/Cosmetic products

• Development of new pharmaceutical and cosmetic products of high added value.
• Utilization of plant wealth (domestic or non-domestic) in the development of medicines, parapharmaceuticals and cosmetic products of plant origin

Material Technology

• Nanotechnology and nanosciences
• Development of new/ complex/ smart high value-added materials, friendly towards the environment and health with improved properties
• Nano-materials for the development of innovative high value-added products with improved properties

Informatics/Automation

• “Green” Technology networks (Green Wireless). Technology for the development of wireless low-power consumption systems, performing by renewable energy sources
• Wireless sensor networks, energy management for low power consumption, interconnection of objects, composition of data from heterogeneous sensors
• Research and Application of Business Intelligence Systems and Knowledge Management with the use of Automation in the Agriculture production
• Information Systems Technologies, Management of Knowledge and Communication with the Environment

The achievement of the basic and constant goal of the company which is DEVELOPMENT passes largely through the creation of new innovative products which can offer a competitive advantage in HUMOFERT SA increasing its market share and therefore improving its financial results. In order to achieve its objective HUMOFERT SA systematically invests in RESEARCH, the results of which pave the road leading potentially to INNOVATION.

The R&D department of the company is responsible for the development of new products and technologies which occur after systematic research (industrial research and experimental development) in certain fields of interest for the company. Furthermore, in cooperation with research institutions and universities both in Greece and abroad, the R&D department of HUMOFERT SA conducts basic research designed to generate new knowledge on scientific and technological areas of interest to the company today or in the future.

The funding of the research programs carried out by HUMOFERT SA is based primarily on equity derived from its annual budget. An additional source of funding for research projects of the company is also the subsidies received by the Greek State and the European Union in the framework of the participation of HUMOFERT SA in research projects conducted in partnership with Research organizations, Universities and other companies with a common vision and orientation.