interBalkan Environment Center

The interBalkan Environment Center (i-BEC) is a non-profit, mission-oriented international research and innovation organisation based in Lagadas, Greece. It was initiated in 2006 by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki under the scientific guidance of Emeritus Professor G. Zalidis and formally established on 30 July 2007. Its founding partners included the Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia, the Research Committee of Aristotle University, the Regions of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace and Western and Central Macedonia, the Municipalities of Oraiokastro, Delta and Lagadas, and the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH). i-BEC operates as a public-private network linking local communities and countries across the wider Balkan region with EU and UN agencies. i-BEC's work centres on Earth Observation, laboratory analysis and geospatial tools for sustainable natural resource management. It leverages satellite data and the Copernicus programme to support environmental protection and natural resource management, and it is a member of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). The organisation provides a catalogue of 28 specialised services across agriculture, soil, environment, food, laboratory, data, industry and land use, including automated irrigation, fertilisation, crop protection, soil degradation mapping and soil erosion modelling. It also offers integrated carbon management and carbon insetting solutions, climate resilience services, and a Tele-Advisory Field Diagnostic Toolbox. With more than 20 years of continuous presence, i-BEC reports 130+ national and European projects, 200+ institutional partners, 28 specialised services and 32 specialised protocols. It participates in EU-funded research projects such as AI4SoilHealth, CARBONICA and Nemesis, and is registered with the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN), strengthening Greece's participation in global soil resource management and monitoring. The organisation connects science, technology and society through international cooperation and knowledge transfer, supporting public and private stakeholders with Earth Observation services and environmental research.

The interBalkan Environment Center (i-BEC) traces its origins to 2006, when the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) initiated the effort under the scientific guidance of Emeritus Professor G. Zalidis. The aim was to connect scientific knowledge with public administration, local government, business and civil society. The organisation was formally established on 30 July 2007 by the Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia, the Research Committee of Aristotle University, and other institutional bodies. From its founding, i-BEC was structured as a collaboration of institutional bodies at different levels of governance. These included the Regions of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, Western and Central Macedonia, the Municipalities of Oraiokastro, Delta and Lagadas, as well as research institutions such as the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH). Its legal form as a non-profit civil company was chosen to safeguard operational flexibility, while the composition of the participating bodies guarantees its public and developmental character. Over more than two decades, i-BEC has built a portfolio of environmental management and agri-food activities. It reports more than 20 years of operation, 28 specialised services, 32 specialised protocols, and over 130 national and European projects. It has participated in EU-funded research and innovation projects including AI4SoilHealth (2023–2026), CARBONICA (2023–2026) and Nemesis, a Soil Health Living Lab Network for combating desertification in the Mediterranean. Internationally, i-BEC acts as a regional and national representative member in networks and initiatives. It is a member of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and is registered with the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN), strengthening Greece's participation in global action on the management and monitoring of soil resources. The organisation continues to operate from Lagadas, Greece, serving public and private stakeholders across the wider Balkan region with Earth Observation services and environmental research.

• 2023

  AI4SoilHealth project implementation period begins (1/1/2023 – 31/12/2026).

• 2023

  CARBONICA project implementation period begins (1/1/2023 – 31/12/2026).

• 2007

  Formally established on 30 July 2007 by the Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia, the Research Committee of Aristotle University, and other institutional bodies.

• 2006

  Activity began on the initiative of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki under the scientific guidance of Emeritus Professor G. Zalidis.

Non-profit international innovation organisation connecting science, technology and society for sustainable natural resource management in the Balkans.

• Tele-Advisory Field Diagnostic Toolbox (TFDT)

  A field diagnostic toolbox application for agricultural advisory services.

• Carbon Insetting

  Integrated solutions for sustainable carbon management and sequestration.

• Integrated Carbon Management

  Integrated carbon footprint management and sequestration system.

• Climate Resilience Centre

  Climate resilience services for the Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace.

• Soil Health and Economic Growth

  Services promoting healthy soils for sustainable systems and economic growth.

• Automated Irrigation

  Automated, immediate activation of the actuator without user intervention, through a SCADA system.

• Fertilisation / Fertigation

  Fertigation service combined with the irrigation service, delivered through irrigation actuators.

• Crop Protection (Application)

  Insect control in tree crops (mainly olive) using an unmanned aerial vehicle or tractor-mounted equipment.

• Soil Degradation Mapping

  Mapping of soil degradation for environmental management.

• Soil Erosion (G2 model)

  Application of the G2 model for soil erosion assessment.

1. 1Homepage - v4 - i-BEC interBalkan Environment Centeri-bec.org
2. 2About - i-BEC interBalkan Environment Centeri-bec.org
3. 3Solutions & Services - i-BEC interBalkan Environment Centeri-bec.org
4. 4interBalkan Environment Center - Wikidatawikidata.org