The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) was founded in 1925 and is the largest higher education institution in Greece in terms of student population. It is one of the country’s most historic universities and has gained international recognition for the high quality of its education and research.

AUTH consists of 11 Faculties, divided into 41 academic Departments, covering nearly every field of knowledge – from humanities and legal studies to natural sciences, technology, medicine, and geotechnical sciences. With a university community of tens of thousands of students and academics, AUTH plays a leading role in producing research and innovation in Greece. At the same time, it actively participates in European programs and collaborations, leveraging its expertise for the benefit of society and the economy.

The Department of Agriculture is one of the first established Departments of AUTH, with a history of 93 years. It has significant educational and research activity across a broad spectrum of disciplines, specifically in the following Divisions: Agricultural Economics, Land Reclamation, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Food Science and Technology, Animal Production, Horticulture and Viticulture, Plant Protection, Field Crops and Ecology, and Applications of Information Technology in Agriculture.

Within OLIVEUP, AUTH contributes its extensive research experience and interdisciplinary expertise to support the project’s objectives. University scientists collaborate with other partners in the development and supervision of innovative solutions (such as smart farming applications and environmental monitoring), providing the project with a high level of technical knowledge. The participation of AUTH is crucial for the scientific validity of the results and helps ensure the wider dissemination and exploitation of OLIVEUP innovations, both within the academic community and in the production sector.