The battle over the sugar factories – Nikos Lygeros
The fight for sugar factories in Greece is a national issue and we must not limit it to local concerns. Greece has the capacity to produce high-quality sugar and must not only continue but also increase its production. This objective is not unattainable, as there is potential for the use of zeolite in this sector as well. The discussions held at the Nea Orestiada factory are not only encouraging but also allow us to foresee its immediate application in crop cultivation. The idea, therefore, is not simply to support a structure and infrastructure that some may regard as outdated, nor are we intending to delay any plans that ultimately aim for closure. We have factories in our country and we want to develop their potential, not in an artificial way or by waiting for funding from some European framework. We want the regions to develop in a rational and strategic manner, because we want not only stability but also resilience.
Because regions such as Thrace need dynamic support to function effectively and to retain the families who contribute to the whole of our country. And the sugar factory is a key tool for the region’s development. Therefore, providing farmers with information on the use of zeolite in sugar beet production is a top priority, so that everyone, whatever their position in the production and farming chain, that this is a dynamic solution to the problem which will save on costs that we would previously have considered essential. Factories do not close down when there is both the will and the knowledge. The will is here, and now is the time for knowledge to bolster the whole endeavour. Every manufacturer who uses zeolite will, in essence, be helping the factory and Greece, as well as their own livelihood.
