Restoring Soil that enriches the olive oil value chain
Gaia Hub pioneers regenerative agronomic practices in olive farming for healthier soils and resilient local economies.
Practical regeneration for working olive farms
Thyrea Gaia Hub provides farmers with the practical knowledge, expert guidance and tools to apply tested regenerative agronomic practices that restore soil health, reduce dependency on costly inputs, and increase resilience to water scarcity and extreme weather.
From knowledge to action in the field
Through hands-on training, on-site application, and access to tools and expertise, farmers can improve yields, lower production costs, and secure long-term livelihoods.
Soil Regeneration
Customized soil regeneration practices per farm
GAIA HUB equips local growers with practical knowledge, expert guidance, and proven tools to successfully adapt regenerative practices to their own land:
Soil Health Diagnostics
Baseline testing for soil biology, natural fertility, microorganisms, and water retention capacity.
Hands-On Training & Demonstrations
On-site learning focused on minimal soil disturbance, year-round soil cover, hugelkultur swales, and tree-specific micro-catchments.
Expert On-Farm Support
Personalized, on-site application assistance directly guided by a soil specialist.
Peer Mentorship & Network
Direct guidance from experienced regenerative farmers and access to a collaborative community of practice.
Business Growth
Entrepreneurship skills and business plan
GAIA HUB supports local growers with practical training, business tools, and market strategies to build profitable, resilient enterprises:
Business & Skills Training
On-site and e-learning programs focused on modern entrepreneurship, marketing, and business model design.
Participatory Business Planning
Interactive workshops to help individual businesses design actionable, tailored business plans.
Mentorship & Exchange
Opportunities for new and experienced entrepreneurs to participate in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) program.
Living Testbeds
Scientific trial zones with plot setups
GAIA HUB offers agronomists and researchers the living testbeds to evaluate, validate, and observe regenerative practices on local land:
Controlled Trial Zones
Designated control and trial plots to test regenerative techniques on olive trees.
Data & Monitoring
Field monitoring equipment to track real-time soil health, moisture, and crop performance metrics.
Scientific Demonstration Protocols
Structured, repeatable test protocols to ensure accurate, reliable agronomic findings.
On-Site Field Workshops
Practical induction sessions, farm walk-throughs, and collaborative outcome-sharing workshops.
Agrotourism & Ecotourism
Experiential visits to regenerative farms
GAIA HUB offers structured educational and immersive experiences, bridging local regenerative agriculture with visitors, community members, and eco-conscious travelers:
Guided Tours
Short-format farm visits highlighting local regenerative olive farming, soil restoration techniques, and live demonstrations.
Tailor-Made Immersion Packages
Deep-dive experiential packs for individuals and groups, combining hands-on workshops with customized learning goals.
15 partner pilot farms
Across our network of 15 partner pilot farms—selected directly from the local Agriculture Cooperative of Doliana—GAIA HUB has actively implemented hands-on regenerative practices that combine scientific soil restoration with traditional landscape management to build long-term orchard resilience.
Driven by peer growers, this initiative brings real-world, practical adoption directly into active production olive groves, testing proven techniques on working farms to ensure scalable, community-led results.
Workshops in the field
Practical learning brings regenerative techniques directly into North Kynouria’s working olive groves.
Documented workshop topics include:
Soil Sampling & Mapping
Scientific soil sampling and mapping techniques within ancient olive orchards to gather critical baseline data.
Seedball Creation Workshop
Scientists, cooperative farmers and local school children mixed soil, clay and seeds into small balls, allowing seed dispersal without plowing.
Active Biochar
Field-scale biochar production from pruned olive branches, followed by charging the biochar with manure and compost before application around olive tree root zones.
Inverted Hugelkultur Swale
Contour mapping and layered swales designed for landscape water harvesting, drought resilience and erosion protection.
Landscape Water Harvesting Micro-Catchment
Crescent-moon-shaped micro-catchments capture sheet flow and deliver moisture towards individual olive tree root systems.
Dry Stone Wall Maintenance
Construction and repair of traditional dry stone structures to protect topsoil, create beneficial insect habitats and slow rainwater runoff.
Partner with Gaia Hub
Whether you are a farmer, agronomist, researcher or organisation, connect with Gaia Hub to explore opportunities for learning, experimentation and collaboration.
gaia@thyrea.eu