CIHEAM Press Review

Since 2019, Tunisia has been struggling with a drought that has left most of its dams and reservoirs almost empty and, with rising temperatures and longer summers, is placing more pressure on already depleted groundwater sources.

In support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, IGCAT ́s World Regions of Gastronomy not only have great culinary assets but they are also committed to stimulating debate about the production of sufficient and healthy food for everyone.
We know there is enough food to feed the world if we protect the planet’s biodiversity. Food kilometres, sustainable farming practices, the importance of pollinators and food waste are focus areas that both awarded and candidate regions are already addressing to contribute to our collective aim to secure our future food security.

North Africa is facing a severe drought.  Recent data from the European satellite Copernicus reveal a severe drought in the Maghreb region, affecting countries of great importance such as Morocco and Algeria. The absence of the liquid element is a serious setback for the population of this area, especially for all those most closely linked to the agricultural sector, which is of great importance in this geographical area.  

The number of wine producers in the Algarve has tripled in the last decade and the sector now wants to bet on the wine tourism segment, taking advantage of the hotel and restaurant channels, the president of the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA) stated.

In the Qena governorate of Upper Egypt, locals can buy ready-to-eat jallab in shops and markets. The sweet is a light brown colour, resembling the wafer of an ice-cream cone. Unlike the beverage that shares its name in other parts of the Middle East, the sweet is made from a syrup extracted exclusively from sugarcane. The syrup is not refined to the point where it becomes molasses, but instead is boiled until it thickens. (All photos by Fadel Dawod)

Many of Manisa's famous cherry trees remain barren and fruitless in Türkiye's Aegean region due to inadequate precipitation and drought. The cherry trees, a sensitive floral species, are also being hit hard by global warming.

On the occasion of the XIV National Corn Congress held in Santarem (Portugal) from 15 to 16 February 2023 on the role of agriculture in world geopolitics with regard to energy and water issues, the Secretary-General of CIHEAM, Mr Plácido Plaza, spoke on the subject of irrigation in Mediterranean agriculture. This is a complex subject at the intersection of climatic, environmental, socio-economic and governance considerations that requires a concerted, multi-stakeholder approach.

Consume Green Organic Future Foods is a women-led agricultural social enterprise working to rejuvenate traditional foodways in northern India. The health of both the planet and the community are equal priorities for the organization.

Less land available to grow food locally will lead to rise in prices of imported produce.

Farmers who expressed concern over swathes of arable land in Marsaxlokk being sold for recreational purposes say their fears have been realised.

Developing a strategic plan for national food security is a primary goal for his ministry in 2023, Ministry of Economy and Trade Mohamed Hwej said Tuesday. He was speaking at a meeting of the Supreme Committee to Develop a Food Security Strategy held at the headquarters of the National Council for Economic and Social Development in Tripoli.

Students in Morocco can enroll in an olive oil-spe­cific Master’s degree for the first time.
The National School for Agriculture in Meknès, one of the coun­try’s most pro­duc­tive olive-grow­ing regions, will accept stu­dents into the vir­gin olive oil qual­ity and safety Master’s degree (MarVOOlea) at the begin­ning of the 2023/24 aca­d­e­mic year.

Photo: The Olive TImes

In Egypt, land reforms and the loss of many crops mean that some recipes and dishes are close to dying out. Today, many are working to celebrate them.

Over 22,000 Albanian farmers have applied for direct state subsidies in just two days, leading to a situation where the online system struggled to deal with the traffic and farmers descended on government buildings to file.
The Albanian Agriculture Ministry is offering farmers subsidies for free fuel, renovation of fishing vessel infrastructure, support for building agricultural markets, and in areas such as livestock, beekeeping, and organic farms.

Recognizing the value farmers bring to the table, CORAF is working with them directly to build resilience in West and Central Africa.

Desertification is a worldwide phenomenon afflicting countries all over the world. The desert is making a comeback in the Middle East, with fertile lands turning into barren wastes. According to United Nation’s Development Program’s 2009 Arab Human Development Report, desertification is threatening around one-fifth of the MENA region. China is experiencing desertification at an alarming rate – as much as 1,300 square miles each year. Sub-Saharan Africa is drying up, as are regions of Turkey that were once rich agricultural lands.

The latest IPCC Synthesis Report on climate change emphasizes that food system transformation is essential for avoiding climate catastrophe.

In lush valleys, coffee is still harvested using centuries old methods, producing some of the finest tasting and most sought after beans.

As the first African-American woman elected to Congress from North Carolina, I served for 10 years in positions on the House Agriculture Committee and as the ranking member of the Operations Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittees. Combined with my subsequent tenure as the Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, I understand the critical need for investment in small and future farmers, and how connected their growth and ability to thrive is to healthy food, healthy people, and robust rural communities.

Like so many of the planet’s natural habitats, wetlands have been systematically destroyed over the past 300 years. Bogs, fens, marshes and swamps have disappeared from maps and memory, having been drained, dug up and built on.
Being close to a reliable source of water and generally flat, wetlands were always prime targets for building towns and farms. Draining their waterlogged soils has produced some of the most fertile farmland available.

Last November, in Sharm el-Sheikh, world leaders renewed their commitments to keep the 1.5°C target within reach and pledged to invest in new climate technologies. While data is at the heart of every innovation guiding national climate adaptation and mitigation policies, policymakers still face a long list of data challenges when it comes to its collection and processing. Please join the Middle East Institute for an expert panel discussion on the practical strategies and tactics policymakers can adopt to overcome the difficulties inherent in gathering, processing, interpreting, and utilizing climate data sets as a valuable resource.

A recent National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) study finds that access to affordable land is the top barrier facing young farmers in the U.S., especially for Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian, and other farmers of color. Nationwide, individual and community-led efforts are working to expand farmland access and management to address systemic barriers.

Temperatures lingering above seasonal norms may lead to a decline in bee populations, as it creates an environment for viruses and bacteria and pushes bees to lay eggs earlier, according to an expert working at a research center in Türkiye's northwestern Düzce.