Goat farming is an important production sector not only for Greece, but also for other Mediterranean countries, as it contributes to the family economy in rural areas. Despite the importance of goat farming, this sector has experienced economic difficulties due to poor management and increased production costs. The aim of our research is to determine goat farm profitability by surveying goat farmers for revenues, variable costs, and fixed costs of their farms. With the use of Principal Component Analysis, all economic factors contributing to overall production costs are examined, as well as their specific impacts on cost formulation. According to our results, goat farms in Greece are not profitable and they cannot survive without government subsidies. Farm economics and agricultural policies could be leveraged to improve community and environmental outcomes in order for farms to be economically and financially sustainable.

This paper aims to provide pig farmers with the necessary information to guide strategic decisions through the development of a tool that allows them to calculate and control their production costs. A financial ratio analysis can be used as a starting point when assessing and improving a farm’s economic sustainability. The objective of the present article is to (1) provide insight into the financial ratios commonly used for pig farm assessments and (2) how they may be applied through an advisory tool to assess farm economic sustainability. Moreover, in this study, different financial ratios were examined to uncover trade-offs and synergies between them. Using the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), we analyzed Spearman correlations between financial ratios. The correlation between these sets of indicators suggested that they could be used to estimate dairy farm economic sustainability. Our results showed that pig farms face a financial situation that can be improved. Pig farmers can benefit from this tool in multiple ways, by gaining an understanding of the costs and revenues leading to investment decisions, managing the risks, planning for potential growth, and having greater access to funding opportunities.

Greece is a country with a long tradition in animal breeding, particularly involving small ruminants and goat farming is an important livestock industry. Despite the high productivity and high quality of products, the goat industry shows low competitiveness due to high production costs compared to other EU countries. For economic sustainability, farms have to be profitable; therefore, it is important to maximize income whilst controlling costs. The aim of this paper is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the goat breeding industry so that it is not only viable but also competitive. The economic performance of goat farms are evaluated in this study, as well as the factors that influence financial results. Capital formation and production costs composition of the holdings are examined. Moreover, the purpose of the analysis is to draw conclusions regarding the gross return achieved, the participation of production factors (land, labor, capital) in the composition of total costs, and the financial results achieved. Results show that the cost of feed, depreciation, and the value of animals contribute most in the formulation of cost.

Commercial tomato hybrids exhibit robust performance in modern high-input agricultural systems. However, their suitability for low-input farming remains uncertain. With the goal that by 2030, 25% of European agricultural production must be organic as part of the European Green Deal, this study aims to assess whether existing commercial tomato hybrids can offer a viable solution for low-input farming. Additionally, the impact of beneficial microorganisms such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), in relation to the growth and productivity of tomato hybrids under low-input cultivation is assessed. For this purpose, a well-defined microbial consortium, including Azotobacter chroococcum, Clostridium pasteurianum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Acetobacter diazotrophicus, was applied as a liquid suspension to enhance root colonization and promote plant growth. Seven commercial tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) hybrids—the most popular in the Greek market—were evaluated for their performance under high-input (hydroponic) and low-input cultivation systems (with and without the use of PGPR). Several parameters related to yield, fruit quality, nutritional value, descriptive traits, and leaf elemental concentration were evaluated. In addition, a techno-economic analysis was conducted to assess whether hybrids developed under high-input conditions and intended for such cultivation environments suit low-input farming systems. The results indicated that such hybrids are not a viable, efficient, or profitable strategy for low-input cultivation. These findings underscore the importance of breeding tomato varieties, specifically adapted to low-input farming, highlighting the need for targeted breeding strategies to enhance sustainability and resilience in future agricultural systems. Notably, this study is among the first to comprehensively assess the response of commercial tomato hybrids under low-input conditions, addressing a critical gap in the current literature.

The promotion of sustainable schools is an important criterion for the promotion of ecological protection and the transformation of today’s society into a more sustainable one. The early childhood environment is believed to provide the ideal foundation for fostering values and attitudes related to sustainable education and promoting pro-environmental behaviors. The main goal of this study is to explore educators’ perceptions and expectations regarding the role of sustainable schools in shaping the environmental awareness and behavior of young children. A pilot study was carried out in the context of quantitative research on Preschool Teachers of Primary Education. Research results indicate that a Sustainable School (SS), beyond the curriculum, must promote issues of environmental awareness, culture, equality, natural resource management, and human rights. Also, it was seen that a modern school should provide Educators with new training opportunities in teaching methods that are based on sustainability principles and promote sustainability skills. Students’ acquisition of environmental knowledge can positively influence pro-environmental behavior and increase the likelihood of engaging in sustainable practices to protect the environment.