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In a world fractured by geopolitical tensions and climate disruption, the CIHEAM is emerging as a stabilising force. For more than sixty years, this intergovernmental organisation has pursued a bold vision: to transform the Mediterranean basin into a laboratory where food security becomes a lever for peace.
Towards a sovereignty of sharing and solidarity
For CIHEAM, the resilience of Mediterranean nations rests on what it defines as “active solidarity,” grounded in a simple observation: in food systems, interdependence is a reality. Seeds, varieties and know-how have always circulated across borders. By acting as an interface between scientific rigour and political dialogue, the organisation seeks to turn this interdependence into a collective project aimed at securing both resources and knowledge. This involves sharing scientific data and expertise, as well as supporting the development of complementary value chains. In this way, CIHEAM promotes a form of food sovereignty rooted in solidarity and centred on regional value chains.
Science as a lever for peace and stability
In the face of potential social fractures, agriculture becomes a vehicle for dialogue. In areas of tension, cooperation on water, soil or animal health helps maintain connections, even when diplomatic relations are strained. “When you share a sea or a river, or when plant diseases spread, not cooperating is a luxury we cannot afford,” notes Yasmine Seghirate, Administrator at the CIHEAM General Secretariat, adding that “without food security, there can be neither lasting security nor peace in the region.”
By fostering the circulation of knowledge and innovation, CIHEAM helps defuse latent tensions while also creating opportunities for sustainable employment in rural areas. Scientific diplomacy thus becomes an instrument of soft power in the service of peace.
A cultural and food model to be reinvented
In response to climate challenges, CIHEAM develops solutions rooted in local territories. “We are working on water management, soil preservation, ecosystem protection and the promotion of sustainable diets,” explains Roberto Capone, Senior Administrator and Focal Point for Sustainable Food Systems. These dimensions are interconnected within a One Health approach, where human, animal and environmental health are intrinsically linked. In this context, the Mediterranean diet stands as a central lever. “It is not just a diet, it is a way of life,” he recalls. Promoting it aims to reconnect agriculture, taste, health and social cohesion.
Rural vitality as a driver of transformation
CIHEAM views young people and women in rural areas not merely through the lens of social vulnerability, but as strategic actors and essential entrepreneurs of Mediterranean transformation. By valuing these talents, the organisation revitalises a shared history of exchanges and cultural blending, offering new generations a tangible horizon of prosperity. This “positive laboratory” no longer limits itself to managing emergencies; it experiments with sustainable resource management models that can be scaled globally. The Mediterranean thus emerges as a new centre of gravity for food intelligence, demonstrating that rural inclusion remains the primary engine of tomorrow’s innovation.
See the article on Le Figaro.fr and Who's Who France