22 May, Rome: The BEANS Network Meets in Rome to Strengthen Cooperation on Legumes in the Mediterranean
On 22 May, members of the BEANS Network will gather in Rome at the premises of the Alliance Bioversity International & CIAT for an Executive Committee meeting followed by an online workshop dedicated to cooperation and funding perspectives for the network.
Launched in 2025 under the impetus of CIHEAM, the BEANS initiative (Boosting Euro-Mediterranean Agri-food through Networked Systems) brings together research institutions, international organizations, public decision-makers and agri-food stakeholders around a shared objective: strengthening the role of legumes in Mediterranean food systems.
At a time of growing climate pressures, increasing stress on natural resources and rising food security concerns, legumes are attracting renewed attention across the region. Rich in plant-based proteins, capable of naturally improving soil fertility and relatively well adapted to arid environments, they are increasingly seen as crops with strong potential to support agricultural and food systems transitions in the Mediterranean.
The Executive Committee meeting will address several strategic and operational priorities for the network, including the implementation of the BEANS Action Plan, membership development, opportunities linked to upcoming Horizon Europe 2026–2027 calls, scientific publication projects and the structuring of a thematic webinar series aimed at strengthening exchanges among partners.
The afternoon session will take the form of an online collaborative workshop focused on international funding opportunities, scientific cooperation and the identification of priority themes for future BEANS working groups. Discussions will also contribute to aligning the network’s activities with partners’ needs and emerging challenges related to legumes across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Through this meeting, the BEANS Network continues its efforts to strengthen connections between research, public policies, innovation and regional cooperation around an issue that is becoming increasingly strategic for the future of Mediterranean food systems