Parménides XI, Montpellier, 17-19 June 2025

Concept note Provisional Agenda Registration

The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and the Interacademy Group for Development (GID), with the support of the French Academy of Sciences, and Academy of Agriculture, the SFS-MED platform, and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, are organizing the eleventh edition of the Parmenidès Colloquium entitled “Feeding in the Mediterranean,” which will be held from June 17 to 19, 2025, at the CIHEAM Montpellier. This event will bring together international experts to discuss the major agricultural and food transitions in the Mediterranean in the face of the challenges of climate change, food and nutrition security, and sustainable development.

A Space for Scientific and Political Dialogue

Since its inception, the Parmenides Colloquium has established itself as a major event promoting interdisciplinary thinking and systemic approaches to the future of the Mediterranean region . This 11th edition will focus on the interactions between agricultural production, consumption patterns, market regulations and public policies, while also integrating issues related to water management and the resilience of territories in the face of environmental and economic crises.

Themes that are at the Heart of Regional Concerns

The discussions will be structured around several thematic sessions, with the participation of researchers, public decision-makers, representatives of international organizations, and stakeholders from the private and non-profit sectors. Topics covered include:

• Agroecology and food security : Can we reconcile agroecological transition and increased production to meet the region’s food needs?
• Irrigation and the future of Mediterranean agriculture : What alternatives are there in the face of dwindling water resources?
• Food sovereignty : How to rethink supply models and strengthen the resilience of Mediterranean food systems?
• Agricultural prices, public policies and health security : What tools are available to guarantee fairer markets and healthy and accessible food?
• The Mediterranean diet and dietary transitions : Faced with changes in eating habits and the rise of ultra-processing, how can we preserve and revitalize this common heritage?

An Event Embedded in a Mediterranean Cooperation Dynamic

CIHEAM, an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to cooperation in agriculture, food and rural development in the Mediterranean, and the GID, a key player in international scientific dialogue, are joining forces with other partner institutions to strengthen scientific and political synergies for more sustainable agricultural and food systems. Montpellier, a city at the crossroads of agricultural sciences and innovations in agro-ecology, provides an ideal setting for these forward-looking discussions.

This conference will conclude with a summary session and presentation of concrete recommendations to support agricultural and food transitions in the Mediterranean region.