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Greece is going back to its roots, but some people see that as a step backwards. Cultivating the land has always been a tradition for developing countries, but those nations that see themselves as “developed” or “industrial” may find a slight bias against changing careers from engineering to farm work. However, with unemployment high and austerity measures making even the jobs available even less attractive, an entire generation is rethinking the way to survive and thrive in Greece with a nod back towards agribusiness.

Farming

Farming in America has been a great business during the recession as food prices have risen and the demand for organic produce with it. While many other businesses saw a loss of demand, farming and gardening experienced a surge in interest from buyers and homeowners seeking to develop a piece of land to help pay the grocery bill. Similarly, Greeks are seeing the advantages of having a piece of land to farm to create an income where other businesses have dried up. Couples that have trained as teachers, or men who worked as engineers, are seeking out land in Greece to develop in crops that are either native to the area or that have a potential for tourism. Luckily, in Greece, many families own land that gets handed down from generation to generation so that one does not have to be rich to own a plot of land. Even those who come from low income families may find they own a pocket of land that can be developed.

New Commerce

Land being developed can be used for not just vegetables, but also unique crops like edible snails and mastic from native trees used to create liquors, food, soap, or candles. New entrepreneurs in agribusiness are not just looking to the mainstream fruits and vegetable basket of goods. They are looking for unique crops with a high potential for profit and also to attract farming tourism. While the parents of these innovative entrepreneurs may cringe at going back to the land, it is being done in a way that brings the skills learned in other professions back to the farm. This can create new ways to farm the land and make it profitable and reduce the need for manual labor. With so few choices for Greeks now to make money, the farming business is one of the bright spots still left in an economy besieged with bad news all around.