𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

Legumes, a fundamental component of the Mediterranean Diet and regional agro-ecological systems, are gaining ever more importance in the field of food and environmental sustainability. Their reintroduction into Mediterranean agricultural systems not only improves sustainability, but can offer a significant contribution to the mitigation of current global health and environmental crises.

CIHEAM Bari, in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and FAO, has organised a seminar to share the results of the MEDIET project this 8 March 2024 at CIHEAM Bari. The event focused on the crucial role of legumes in improving human health, ensuring food security and fostering environmental sustainability. Funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by CIHEAM Bari, the MEDIET initiative brings together 1️7 countries from the Maghreb, Mashreq and Balkan regions.

The meeting gathered national and international institutions and organizations, including FAO, ICARDA, CIAT-CGIAR, CNR, UfM, PRIMA, International Legumes Society, UNIBA, Coldiretti and Slow Food. As well as highly qualified experts and academics and companies promoting healthy pulse products.

The Secretary General of the CIHEAM, M. Teodoro Miano who was invited to deliver the final conclusions after thanking the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International, Cooperations for its continuous and growing support to CIHEAM initiatives, said he was delighted with the results of the MEDIET project.

He estimated that the project matches very closely the CIHEAM Strategic Plan 2030 and with the Mediterranean Sustainable Food Systems Initiative. A multistakeholder virtual platform in which several organizations tend to gather actions, events, outputs in the field of food systems.

Adding that "For the CIHEAM the sustainable food systems vision brings along the connection between production and consumption of food. Between these two extremes the chain touches several fields of activities, such as natural resources exploitation and management, food characteristics and transformation, storage and deliveries, social and cultural food issues, nutrition (food environment)."

Over the past year, MEDIET has shifted its focus to legume species, recognising them as integral components of local diets and drivers of sustainable food systems in the Mediterranean. By examining 145 legume samples and relevant data from 15 Mediterranean countries, the MEDIET project evaluates the viability of legumes through three interconnected dimensions: nutritional (for human health), ecological (impact on environmental sustainability) and agronomic (nitrogen fixation and rotation).

More about the event here : CIHEAM BARI WEBSITE

Read M. Teodoro Miano’s Statement