Climate Change and the Role of Governance in the Value Chain Sustainability of Carob Flour in Rethymno, Crete, Greece

This chapter analyses the value chain of carob flour production in a semi-mountainous region of Crete, Greece, with significant economic, social, and cultural importance. The research identifies the main links of the value chain through interviews, regional government statistics, archival sources, and workshop results. Vulnerability analysis raised the factors of demographics, antagonizing cultivations, and international competition as the main reasons for the reduced potential of this value chain. Governance is acknowledged by most members of the value chain as having a grave effect on the potential of carob production, especially when considering the significant implications on economic and environmental sustainability in the area.