Centre International of Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes (CIHEAM)
The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) was founded in 1962 by the Council of Europe and the OECD.
It is an intergovernmental organization that currently brings together thirteen Member States from the Mediterranean Basin (Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia and Turkey).
With three main complementary activities (specialized post-graduate training, networked research and the facilitation of discussion of regional policy) at the core of its work to enhance cooperation, the CIHEAM has established itself as an authority in its fields of activity: agriculture, food and sustainable rural development in the Mediterranean.
The CIHEAM is structured around four Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes (MIAs), located in Bari (Italy), Chania (Greece), Montpellier (France) and Saragossa (Spain), and a General Secretariat in Paris (France). Adel El-Beltagy and Francisco Mombiela are currently the President of the board of directors and Secretary General of the CIHEAM respectively.
In 2012, the CIHEAM celebrates its 50th anniversary with trust and hope. Trust because it is an essential element of partnerships. The CIHEAM likes to say that it does not work “on” the Mediterranean, but “for” and “with” the Mediterranean, in a spirit of cooperation. Hope is also important, to continue on same path, while at the same time adapting to the new trends in political and financial policies that are developing in the region. The CIHEAM considers these challenges as tremendous opportunities for the future. Every day, current events show that agriculture, food and the sustainable management of natural resources are areas that can encourage solidarity between the Mediterranean countries.