Reviving Agriculture: How Retired Hens are Boosting Cyprus' Olive Groves

In Cyprus, retired hens are revitalizing olive groves by fertilizing and controlling pests. This eco-friendly initiative, led by Elena Christoforos and Nicolas Netien, utilizes food waste as hen feed, producing olive oil rich in polyphenols while reducing methane emissions and promoting a self-sustained ecosystem.

In an innovative agricultural initiative, organic farmers in Cyprus are employing retired hens to enhance olive grove productivity. The project, established by farmer Elena Christoforos and soil engineer Nicolas Netien, not only boosts olive yields but also tackles food waste and pest management.

Using a sustainable approach, these hens, saved from slaughter, wander freely among the organic Akaki Grove olive trees, enriching the soil with their droppings and reducing pests. Fed with food waste collected from schools, these hens help cut down on methane emissions by minimizing landfill-bound organic matter.

The Kot-Kot project aims to create a biodiverse, self-sustaining ecosystem resilient to high temperatures and droughts. Since the introduction of hens, olive tree growth and yields have markedly improved, contributing to the production of high-polyphenol olive oil, recognized for its health benefits.