Chaired by Ms Lamiae Ghaouti, the CIHEAM Advisory Board met on 12 and 13 May 2022 at CIHEAM Zaragoza (Spain) for working sessions with the directors of the Chania, Montpellier and Zaragoza Institutes, the Secretary General, and collaborators.

Besides supporting scientific and academic activities, the Advisory Board gives guidance to CIHEAM in its strategic thinking and operational focus. Several meetings had been organized prior to this meeting, to work on the development of current policies (Gender Equality Plan, publications, etc.) and on initiatives carried out by the CIHEAM working groups in the field of the sustainability of Mediterranean food systems, fishing, and coastal development, the socio-economic inclusion of young people, the empowerment of women and how to strengthen their role in agricultural value chains.

In this respect, the Advisory Board was particularly engaged in discussions concerning the future CIHEAM prize intended to reward young project leaders. This Award will reward innovative projects and disruptive initiatives that contribute to the objectives of CAPMED, including strengthening food and nutritional security, supporting the development of the most vulnerable territories and communities, and preventing risk (climate change, animal and vegetable health).

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the CIHEAM in 2022, this Award for Innovation aims to highlight the ingenuity of Mediterranean youth in agrifood systems and to support their ability to generate solutions to current challenges.

Henceforth, CIHEAM will be acknowledging innovative and disruptive projects, whilst continuing to reward excellence in research, in particular through the Prize for the best thesis.

In a closed-door session, the members of the Advisory Board studied several applications and deliberated by mutual agreement. The successful candidate will be proposed to the members of the Governing Board when they meet on 18 and 19 July in CIHEAM Chania (Crete).