The CIHEAM Joins ATLAS to Support Sustainable Agriculture in Africa

The CIHEAM (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies) has recently joined the ATLAS (Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions) initiative, a high-level multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to political dialogue and cooperation aimed at unlocking the full potential of African agriculture. This collaboration comes at a time when global food insecurity is being exacerbated by extreme climate events, recurrent economic crises, escalating conflicts, and the limitations of a global agricultural and food system that generate inequalities.

With its vast natural resources, Africa has the potential to become a major agricultural power, capable of addressing 13 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to food security, economic growth, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability. However, three major challenges hinder this transformation:

1. The lack of global consensus;
2. A massive funding gap;
3. Climate challenges exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure.

The ATLAS initiative was established in response to these challenges, and following the call to action launched by the Paris Peace Forum: "Africa Can Become a Major Agricultural Power." ATLAS aims to establish a globally shared vision for sustainable agricultural transformation in Africa by strengthening cooperation and viewing agriculture and climate as allies rather than adversaries.

By joining ATLAS, the CIHEAM reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development and international cooperation at a crucial time when global food security is increasingly under threat.

This membership aligns with the priorities of the upcoming CIHEAM Ministerial Meeting, scheduled for 25 October in Rabat, Morocco, where issues of food sovereignty and the resilience of Mediterranean agricultural systems will be at the forefront of discussions.