CIHEAM Ministerial Meetings
The CIHEAM organized the first agriculture Ministerial meeting of its 13 member countries in 1999.
The aim was to establish a sustainable dialogue between Mediterranean countries on agricultural, food and rural issues and foster a common approach. These biennial ministerial meetings provide space for discussion and their strategic dimension is enhanced by the participation of major international organizations active in the region.
Rabat Hosts the 12th Meeting of Ministers from Member States of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM)
- The Kingdom of Morocco hosts the CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting for the second time
- A meeting placing sustainable agriculture and food at the heart of Mediterranean cooperation
- Adoption of the final declaration of the 12th CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting
The Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Ahmed EL Bouari, alongside Ms. Frida KRIFCA, President of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), chaired the 12th CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting on Friday, October 25, 2024, in Rabat. The meeting brought together Ministers of Agriculture, including Mr. Luis PLANAS PUCHADES (Spain), Mr. Francesco LOLLOBRIGIDA (Italy), Mr. Anton REFALO (Malta), and heads of delegations from the 13 CIHEAM member countries, as well as representatives of intergovernmental and international organizations. Recorded messages were also shared by Ms. Anila DENAJ, Minister of Albania, and Mr. Abbas AL HAJJ HASSAN, Minister of Lebanon.
This high-level meeting continues the political dialogues initiated by CIHEAM since its establishment, placing sustainable agriculture and food at the heart of Mediterranean cooperation. Amidst a region-wide poly-crisis, these strategic sectors for food security are seen as vital levers for promoting inclusive development and shared prosperity across the Mediterranean region.
The central theme of this edition, “A Mediterranean Approach to Food Sovereignty: Concerns and Impacts on Sustainable Agri-Food Systems,” emphasizes ways to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable and resilient agricultural and food systems, including the “blue transformation,” in response to challenges such as climate change and water scarcity. Special focus is given to the inclusion of rural communities, particularly youth and women, across agri-food value chains.
CIHEAM: A Key Player in Mediterranean Dialogue and Cooperation
Since 1962, CIHEAM has been committed to agricultural and rural development in the Mediterranean through training, research, policy dialogue, and international cooperation. The 12th Ministerial Meeting follows in the tradition of CIHEAM’s landmark gatherings, aiming to ensure a Mediterranean dialogue space on strategic and emerging issues and to develop joint solutions to address challenges, drawing particularly on CIHEAM’s expertise in the region.
Notably, the Istanbul Ministerial Meeting (2010) addressed the impacts of climate change on food security; the Valletta Ministerial Meeting (2012) advocated for the development of an agricultural market information system for Mediterranean countries, linked to the AMIS system, to better manage agricultural price volatility; the Algiers Ministerial Meeting (2014) emphasized measures to combat food insecurity, focusing on family farming and human development; and the Tirana Ministerial Meeting (2016) addressed the dynamics of mobility and migration in rural and agricultural areas.
A Lasting Commitment of Morocco with CIHEAM
The Kingdom of Morocco is hosting the CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting for the second time. In 2000, Rabat welcomed Ministers from CIHEAM member countries, where they discussed consolidating a common Euro-Mediterranean approach to agricultural trade and the vital role of agricultural product exports for the development of Southern Mediterranean countries.
Twenty-four years later, Morocco once again hosts the CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting at the invitation of Prof. Mohammed Sadiki, the current Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, who chaired the CIHEAM Governing Board from 2019 to 2023. His continued commitment to CIHEAM as Morocco’s delegate on the Board since 2009, then as Vice-President and President, has contributed to strengthening ties between Morocco and this organization. This fruitful cooperation continues today, reflecting a shared desire to strengthen Mediterranean relations and build a sustainable future for the region.
Adoption of the Final Declaration of the 12th CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting
After discussions on national policies and coordinated regional actions to address common challenges and promote food security across the Mediterranean region, the participants adopted by consensus the final declaration of the 12th CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting.
Through this declaration, Ministers and Heads of Delegation expressed their support for CIHEAM’s initiatives in sustainable food systems, encouraged youth and women to invest in sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and acknowledged the relevance of CIHEAM’s work.
Download the Final Declaration
Documents
Scientific High-Level Meeting (24 October)
Media Gallery
Previous CIHEAM Ministerial meetings
Ministerial meeting 2016, Tirana on " Distress Migration: Agriculture and Rural Development Can Help"
The 11th meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of the CIHEAM member States took place in Tirana (Albania) on 22 September 2016. The meeting enabled:
- Discussions on migration from the point of view of agricultural development and food security. Faced with the current refugee crisis, root causes of migration and future trends must be considered in order to identify possible solutions in the field of agriculture, rural development and food security in the Mediterranean.
- The presentation of the CIHEAM Strategic Agenda 2025, structured around 4 pillars, divided into 15 thematic priorities.This Agenda aims to prioritise the CIHEAM activities to better address the current regional challenges, promote the Mediterranean dimension of the Post-2015 Global Agenda, mobilise additional funding sources, enhance cooperation, and strengthen institutional synergies.
- Download the Proceedings
- Download the Press Release
- Download the Tirana Declaration
- Download the CAPMED 2025