The Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources of HAO-DIMITRA is the initiator and Facilitator of the AgriDiverCluster. The research carried out by the the Institute is utilized in the development of the agri-food sector and in solving current problems. The collection, conservation, and evaluation of rare, threatened, endemic and other priority species and the plant genetic resources making up the national flora (crop wild relatives; local and Greek landraces) is aimed at the creation of new agri-food products, with unique characteristics and high added value. Recently, multifaceted commercial interest in such products has seen a marked increase.

Species with aromatic or medicinal properties and those with characteristics that are consistent with contemporary nutritional trends are at the forefront. Research includes genetics and breeding using both compatible and contemporary molecular and genomic methods, contemporary methods of plant protection, sustainable and precision agriculture aiming at integrated production management, the optimal use of inputs to reduce production costs and for the protection of the environment, the implementation of principles of cyclical economy (e.g. inclusion of waste from medicinal and aromatic plants in animal feed), and the application of responsible research and innovation in areas of food security. In addition, the institute through training programs offers innovative methods to growers of medicinal and aromatic plants.

The coordinator of the project is Dr Katerina Grigoriadou and the principal members of the team are  Dr Ioannis Ganopoulos and Dr Athanasios Ragkos.

The researchers at the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources are team members and participate in the AgriDiverCluster project together covering most of the research areas in the agri-food sector.

The initial kernel of private operators consists of the following companies: GEOHELLAS SA; BIOS AGROSYSTEMS; GREEK FEED INDUSTRIES SA-ELVIZ; SYMBEEOSIS LONG LIVE LIFE; VITRO HELLAS; NOVACERT Consulting Development Commercial; MARKOS BAGATZOUNIS & SONS S.A.; HELLENIC DAIRIES -“OLYMPOS”; CONSORTIUM OF COOPERATIVE PRODUCERS FROM IMATHIA; Cooperative of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of Evros Rodopi "Thrace Treasure”; TROPOS Branding; IQ Crops and GAIA Seeds.

Other Institutes and Universities participating as -Collaborators: The Institute of Agronomic Sciences (Public Entity); Department of Animal Husbandry, Ichthyology,Ecology & Environmental Protection - Scool of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Laboratory of Arboriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Pomology Lab, University of Thessaly; Department of Pharmacognosy-Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, University of Athens.