Cultivation and production of aromatic plants in Greece: present situation, possibilities and prospects

The herbs are an integral component of everyday life and culture in all over the world for centuries. These plants are used in pharmaceuticals, in cosmetics, in cooking and in recent years, in food technology as antioxidants. The Greek flora is rich in native herbs and the climatic and soil conditions are prevailing the possibility of their cultivation. The cultivation of aromatic plants declined in the midnineties, but it seems that nowadays reoccurred. The most important species that are cultivated nowdays are the dictamnus, oregano, mountain tea and chamomile. Particularly the cultivation of chamomile has a significant increase. The current trend for healthy food has increased the demand of quality plant products in combination with changes in the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), can be a springboard for the replacement of conventional crops with alternative crops, aromatic and medicinal plants.