On Friday, December 19, 2025, the TYPIC-AL Project organised the official handover ceremony of advanced agricultural machinery and technological equipment at the Agricultural Technology Transfer Centre (ATTC) of Fushë Krujë, strengthening Albania’s agricultural innovation capacity and supporting the development of typical local products.
The Project is financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by CIHEAM Bari in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). It aims to improve food safety, quality and sustainability along the supply chains of Albania’s traditional products, in line with MARD’s priorities to align primary production and processing practices with EU standards, with particular attention to the autochthonous Sulova maize variety.
The event was held with the participation of H.E. Andis Salla, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, representatives of the Italian Embassy in Tirana, AICS, CIHEAM Bari, the ATTCs of Fushë Krujë and Shkodër, and partners from the Cërrik Incubator (SHBB “Harvest Hub – Albania”). The ceremony was welcomed as an important step towards modernising agricultural practices, enhancing food safety and fostering public–private cooperation in rural development.
A key milestone celebrated during the event was the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between ATTC Fushë Krujë, ATTC Shkodër and the Cërrik Incubator, facilitated by CIHEAM Bari. The agreement establishes a coordinated programme for the production of certified pure seeds of the Sulova maize variety, promoting shared use of experimental fields and technologies, joint seed production, and the transfer of scientific and technical know-how to farmers in the Sulova region, while strengthening value chain development for traditional maize-based products.
The agricultural machinery and precision tools supplied through the TYPIC-AL Project—including tractors, seeders, soil-management tools and a drone for precision agriculture—will strengthen mechanisation, technological innovation and extension services. Most of the equipment has already been delivered to the ATTC of Fushë Krujë, including the machinery destined for the ATTC of Shkodër, and is fully operational for field demonstrations.
Dedicated capacity-building activities will be carried out to ensure that ATTC technical staff can effectively operate the new equipment and support farmers with up-to-date agricultural practices. Through targeted investments, training and institutional cooperation, the Italian Cooperation and CIHEAM Bari reaffirm their commitment to Albania’s agricultural modernisation, food safety and rural development.
From 14 to 21 December 2025, CIHEAM Bari hosted in Italy a training and study visit on the olive oil value chain within the framework of the KORES Project – Rural Empowerment of the Kurdistan Region through the Sustainable Development of the Olive Oil Value Chain. The initiative is an Italian Cooperation project, implemented by CIHEAM Bari in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and aims to promote sustainable rural development by strengthening the olive oil sector in the Kurdistan Region.
The visit was specifically designed to support the Olive Oil Working Group in the preparation of policy guidelines for the development of the olive oil sector in the Kurdistan Region, strengthening the evidence base for informed policymaking.
The activity focused on enhancing the technical and institutional capacities of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government through the transfer of knowledge and good practices from the Italian olive oil sector.
The programme combined classroom sessions and technical field visits, providing a comprehensive overview of the olive oil value chain, including plant propagation, orchard management, olive oil processing, quality control, certification systems, marketing, and territorial valorisation.
Participants engaged with public institutions, research centres, producers’ organisations, cooperatives, and private companies in Apulia, gaining practical insights into climate-resilient production models, quality standards, value addition, and governance mechanisms supporting sustainable olive oil production.
Quello che ci ha conquistato di più del progetto Grass Ceiling è la sua capacità di intrecciare storie ed esperienze, strumenti operativi e analisi politiche. Dare alle donne che hanno scelto di lavorare in contesti rurali la possibilità di riconoscersi negli altri, di leggere le proprie sfide e conquiste attraverso lo sguardo di chi ha avviato un’impresa in territori diversi, affrontando ostacoli simili e vivendo le stesse gratificazioni.
Questo intreccio ha preso forma nel Final Showcase Event, che ha segnato la conclusione di tre anni di collaborazione nell’ambito del progetto finanziato da Horizon Europe. L’evento si è svolto qualche giorno fa a Bruxelles, presso il CESE – Comitato Economico e Sociale Europeo, e ha riunito innovatrici rurali, decisori politici, ricercatrici e ricercatori, rappresentanti delle istituzioni europee e della società civile.
Qui sono stati presentati importanti risultati legati alla ricerca scientifica sul tema, riflessioni sulle politiche europee - soprattutto della Strategia di genere e della PAC- e la sperimentazione di un modello di empowerment per le donne in contesti rurali.
Hanno partecipato all’evento i rappresentanti dei 29 partner provenienti da 9 paesi europei. A rappresentare l’Italia, insieme ai co-leads Legacoop Puglia e CIHEAM Bari, è stata Letizia Cuonzo, una delle 8 donne innovatrici che hanno partecipato al Living Lab italiano. Ereditando dal padre la storica impresa di produzione d’olio di famiglia, Letizia ha saputo trasformare le difficoltà incontrate come donna imprenditrice in opportunità di sperimentazione convertendo l’azienda al biologico e puntando sulla valorizzazione in chiave culturale e turistica di un antico frantoio.
La sua esperienza di impresa è parte del Bio-distretto delle lame, che ha collaborato alle attività progettuali.
Insieme a lei anche altre 8 imprenditrici, proveniente da tutti i territori coinvolti nel progetto, hanno dimostrato che, nonostante le difficoltà, le donne giocano un ruolo cruciale nell’innovazione, nella crescita e nello sviluppo dei contesti rurali.
Nella due giorni di attività, sono state presentate raccomandazioni politiche, emerse dal percorso triennale, racchiuse in un importante pacchetto di policy toolkit rivolto, ai rappresentanti della Commissione europea e a parlamentari europei presenti all’evento, con l’obiettivo di rafforzare le politiche a sostegno della leadership femminile.
Il progetto si avvia alla conclusione, ma il patrimonio di storie, idee e strumenti costruito in questi tre anni resta a disposizione di chiunque voglia intraprendere un percorso di innovazione.
È ora disponibile una piattaforma online gratuita e aperta a tutti, pensata per offre moduli formativi utili ad approfondire il ruolo delle donne in agricoltura, conoscere la normativa di settore e supportare idee innovative.
👉 La piattaforma è disponibile qui:
https://www.grassceiling.eu/online-academy/training-activities/mooc/
CIHEAM Bari took part in the 4th International Project Meeting of the BestHONEY project, held in Barcelona from 10 to 12 December 2025 under the Erasmus+ Programme. The Bari Institute was represented by Dr. Nuray Baser and Mr. Antonello Madaro.
The meeting opened with a welcome address by Ms. Rosa Altisent Rosell, General Director of Agriculture and Livestock of the Catalonia Region’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (DARPA), representing the hosting institution.
Discussions focused on key issues related to bee health, including bee diseases, prevention and treatment strategies, as well as European standards for honey production and packaging.
The programme also included technical visits. On the first day, participants visited a queen bee breeding farm in Llinars del Vallès, where best practices for queen selection, colony management and genetic quality control were presented. In the afternoon, the group moved to El Perelló to visit the largest wax production centre in Catalonia, located at the Muria Beekeeping Historical Museum, a landmark for both production and beekeeping heritage in the region.
Through its participation, CIHEAM Bari reaffirmed its commitment to international cooperation, knowledge exchange and the promotion of sustainable and high-quality beekeeping practices.
Following the declaration by the United Nations General Assembly of the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH), every 12th of May, the plant health community celebrates the importance of plant health by organizing events to raise awareness and to mobilize international communities. This year’s theme of the IDPH is plant biosecurity for food security.
In order to give visibility to national and international research and development activities carried out by plant health scientists and their organizations, the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), CABI, the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies of Bari (CIHEAM Bari), the Euphresco III network, the International Seed Federation (ISF) and the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI), are pleased to launch the fifth edition of the video contest ‘Plant Health TV - Promoting the importance of plant health research for food security’.
Guidelines on how to participate in the video contest and relevant documents are available from here.
Dans le cadre du Programme Afrique mis en œuvre par le CIHEAM Bari au Ghana, au Sénégal et en République du Congo, et plus particulièrement du projet « Renforcement des écosystèmes agroalimentaires au Sénégal en partenariat avec le secteur privé italien », des activités de suivi et d'assistance technique sont menées en continu pour contribuer au renforcement des écosystèmes agroalimentaires locaux.
Du 4 au 10 décembre, le coordinateur du programme AREA Africa du CIHEAM Bari, M. Enrico Azzone, avec la manager du projet au Sénégal, Mme Wanda Dimitri, et l’équipe locale au Sénégal ont effectué une mission de suivi afin d'évaluer l'avancement du projet et de renforcer le dialogue avec les institutions nationales et les partenaires du projet.
Cette mission a été une occasion précieuse d'évaluer l'impact des actions en cours et de consolider davantage les synergies avec les acteurs clés du secteur agricole, tant au niveau national que local.
Lors de sa visite, M. Azzone a rencontré à Dakar l'Ambassadrice d'Italie au Sénégal, Mme Caterina Bertolini, le ministre de l'Agriculture, de la Souveraineté alimentaire et de l'Élevage, M. Mabouba Diagne ; le directeur général de l'ISRA (Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles), le prof. Moustapha Gueye.
Au niveau local, dans la région de la Casamance : le gouverneur de la région de Sédhiou, M. Diadia Dia ; le sous-préfet de Djibanar, Moustapha Niang ; les maires des deux communes : M. Ibou Diallo Sadio, maire de Djibanar, et M. Seckou Ndiaye, maire de Kaour ; le directeur local du bureau de l'ISRA à Ziguinchor, M. Paterne Diatta ; le roi d'Oussouye, Sibilumbaï Diedhiou, ainsi que M. Joseph Sambou Faure, responsable du développement économique et territorial de la mairie de Ziguinchor.
En complément du volet institutionnel, la mission a privilégié le contact direct avec les populations de Goudomp et Ziguinchor, notamment les étudiants, les coopératives, les petits exploitants et les micros et petites entreprises locales. Plusieurs sites ont été visités au cours de cette mission : le CEM (collège d'enseignement moyen) de Mangacounda à Kaour et le lycée de Djibanar. Au cours de cette même mission, l’équipe de CIHEAM Bari a rencontré les Groupements d'Intérêt Économique (GIE) Ismaila Barro et Lamine Sadio à Djibanar, ainsi que les responsables des jardins potagers de Pontodoss, Kanéma, Manécounda 2 et Mangacounda à Kaour.
Ces visites se sont déroulées dans la zone rurale de la région naturelle de la Casamance, plus particulièrement dans les régions de Ziguinchor et de Sédhiou (département de Goudomp).
La mission a également été l'occasion de partager l’avancement des activités par le partenaire privé BFI.
Les actions du projet avancent comme prévu : préparation des documents d'appel d'offres pour la réalisation d'infrastructures sociocommunautaires, en particulier dans le secteur de l'éducation dans les deux zones du projet, finalisation d'un Memorandum of Understanding avec l'ISRA de Dakar pour procéder à la structuration de son siège à Ziguinchor, préparation de modules de formation pour les employés municipaux des 2 communes partenaires du projet et pour les techniciens des laboratoires de l'ISRA de Dakar et de Ziguinchor.
Le programme s'inscrit dans le cadre de l'initiative italienne de coopération internationale, développée au sein d'un partenariat public-privé équilibré dans le cadre du Plan Mattei pour l'Afrique.
Il s'inscrit spécifiquement dans le cadre de l'Action pour le renforcement des écosystèmes agroalimentaires en Afrique (AREA), cofinancée par le Ministère des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération internationale (MAECI), avec le CIHEAM Bari comme partenaire de connaissance et organisme de mise en œuvre pour la composante publique, et le BFI comme partenaire privé.
Nella pagina della Manifestazione di Interesse per la presentazione di proposte progettuali da parte di Organizzazioni della Società Civile (OSC) sono state pubblicate le F.A.Q. relative alle ultime domande pervenute dal 22 novembre al 5 dicembre.
Per due giorni la città salentina di Tricase si è trasformata in un vero laboratorio di dialogo mediterraneo, ospitando la prima edizione di “Tricase Med – Mediterraneo: le rotte possibili”. L’iniziativa ha riunito esponenti religiosi, istituzioni, mondo accademico e realtà territoriali attorno a cinque parole chiave: accoglienza, conoscenza, cultura, economia, politica.
L’evento ha ottenuto un prestigioso riconoscimento istituzionale, con la medaglia di rappresentanza del Presidente della Repubblica Sergio Mattarella e il messaggio di plauso di Papa Leone XIV, trasmesso dal Segretario di Stato Pietro Parolin, che ha auspicato “un rinnovato impegno nel coniugare accoglienza e rispetto delle leggi, in vista di una convivenza fraterna e solidale”.
A Palazzo Gallone, nel corso delle due giornate, si sono alternati interventi di figure di primo piano come don Vincenzo Paglia, Enzo Amendola, Emanuele Fiano, il vescovo di Nazareth Rafiq Nahra, Gaetano Quagliariello e Paolo De Castro. Un contributo significativo è arrivato anche dai giovani della Caritas diocesana, che hanno presentato la nuova versione della Carta di Leuca sulla pace, frutto di un percorso condiviso tra ragazze e ragazzi di diversi Paesi e tradizioni religiose.
Il CIHEAM Bari ha coordinato il tavolo dedicato all’economia e quello dedicato alla politica, contribuendo a mettere a fuoco la necessità di un modello mediterraneo di sviluppo sostenibile, capace di integrare crescita, inclusione sociale e tutela delle risorse naturali. Il direttore del CIHEAM Bari, Biagio Di Terlizzi, ha altresì ricordato come la formazione rappresenti da oltre 60 anni il motore dello sviluppo dell’Istituto di Bari, con più di 14.000 professionisti formati che oggi operano nei rispettivi Paesi come ambasciatori dell’organizzazione nei settori della cooperazione e della crescita condivisa. Tra le proposte avanzate durante il confronto politico, il neoeletto presidente della Regione Puglia Antonio Decaro ha suggerito la creazione di un forum permanente del Mediterraneo con sede proprio in Puglia, segno della volontà del territorio di proporsi come piattaforma stabile di confronto e progettazione condivisa.
“Tricase vive un’occasione unica”, ha affermato invece il sindaco della città ospitante, Antonio De Donno, richiamando anche il ruolo del Piano Mattei, che porterà in città la formazione di funzionari africani: “Un’opportunità per proiettare il Salento dentro le strategie internazionali”.
In questo quadro, il contributo del CIHEAM Bari si inserisce pienamente nella sua missione: promuovere cooperazione, dialogo e sviluppo sostenibile nel Mediterraneo, con particolare attenzione ai giovani, ai territori rurali e alle sfide ambientali e sociali che interessano l’area.
Nella pagina della Manifestazione di Interesse per la presentazione di proposte progettuali da parte di Organizzazioni della Società Civile (OSC) sono state pubblicate le F.A.Q. relative alle prime tre domande pervenute fino al 21 Novembre scorso.
As part of the broader Programme Area Africa implemented by CIHEAM Bari in Ghana, Senegal, and the Republic of the Congo within the framework of the “Strengthening of Agro-Food Ecosystems in Ghana in partnership with the Italian private system” project, ongoing monitoring and technical support activities continue to contribute to the strengthening of local agri-food ecosystems.
In this context, the Coordinator of the Program Area Africa at CIHEAM Bari, Mr Enrico Azzone, accompanied by the Project Manager in Ghana, Mr. Alessandro Lorato, carried out a monitoring mission in Ghana from November 18 to 24th, to assess the project’s progress and reinforce dialogue with national institutions and project partners.
The mission provided a valuable opportunity to evaluate the impact of the actions underway and to further consolidate synergies with key actors in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
During his visit, Mr. Azzone met the Ambassador of Italy to Ghana and Togo, Ms. Laura Ranalli, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Emelia Arthur, the Director- General of CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), Prof. Paul B. Bosu, the North Tongu District Chief Executive, Hon. Victoria Amefadzi Yawa Doe, as well as beneficiaries in the rural area of Aveyime-Battor, including students, cooperatives, outgrowers, and local micro and small enterprises.
Furthermore, a visit to the Model Farm of the private partner BFI was carried out to assess the progress of the field activities, guided by the Farm Manager, Mr. Andrea Cavallo.
In line with the planned roadmap, the main project activities implemented by CIHEAM Bari are progressing according to schedule. Preparations are underway for the tender documents related to the construction of socio-community infrastructures; a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is being finalized; cooperatives and outgrowers expected to benefit from capacity-building activities and technical support are being reviewed; and a scholarship program (for three years) is going to be launched for outstanding students enrolling in university courses in agronomy or scientific disciplines.
The Programme is part of the Italian international cooperation initiative developed within a balanced public–private partnership framework under the Mattei Plan for Africa. It specifically falls within the Action for the Strengthening of Agro-Food Ecosystems in #Africa (#AREA), co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), with CIHEAM Bari serving as the knowledge partner and implementing body for the public component, and BFI acting as the private partner.
