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CIHEAM's endeavours since its founding in 1962 have been directed towards finding a response to the innumerable challenges facing Mediterranean agricultural: First, its teaching work, enriched by the analyses provided by its agricultural research and stimulated by its research programmes, serves to emphasize that trained professionals will continue to play a central role at all stages of the Mediterranean agrifood chain, from farm to fork. In a zone where agriculture is one of the cornerstones of society, reaching as it does into many different areas of life, neglecting education and research in this field amounts to giving up on the future. Through its teaching programmes (Master of Science or specialised courses), CIHEAM sets out to help countries meet the challenges facing Mediterranean agriculture by building up a shared body of expertise and a common culture. With its transnational, interdisciplinary expertise, symbolised by the annual report Mediterra, CIHEAM also seeks to provide students, researchers and policy makers with a comprehensive set of strategic information. Second, its work in regional cooperation ensures that the results of the educational and research work can be put to practical effect. The pooling of skill and know-how may be viewed as concrete expressions of its determination to network the skills of the Mediterranean countries. In helping to stimulate the rapid growth of the Euro- Mediterranean zones for agricultural research (ARIMNet) and organic agriculture (MOAN), for example, CIHEAM fulfils its function as a catalyst in increasing knowledge about food and agriculture around the Mediterranean Rim. Through its active participation in numerous development programmes, CIHEAM is able to apply its methods and research findings in the field. Lastly,
by organising the biannual meeting
of its member countries' Ministers of Agriculture, CIHEAM also
proves itself to be one of the great facilitators of political debate
on Mediterranean food and agriculture issues. Because the world food
situation calls for mobilisation of institutions at all levels, the
presence of intergovernmental organisations in certain strategic
regions has proved to be of great value in reconciling the demands of
the international community with the needs of local populations. As
it approaches its 50th anniversary, CIHEAM is unquestionably at a
major crossroads in its history. On the one hand there are
opportunities to identify and understand the essential dynamics of
this sensitive yet coveted region, on the other there is the
obligation to continue working with even greater determination in
pursuit of its mission to promote social stability and development in
the Mediterranean. |
