- From 23 to 25 September, CIHEAM Zaragoza hosted the comprehensive Sustainable Food Systems Training as part of the Mubadarat capacity building programme.
- The event, co-organised by the IUCN Med, AECID, FIAP and CIHEAM Zaragoza, brought together 33 participants to strengthen civil society's capacity to design and implement sustainable agriculture projects across the Mediterranean region.
The training gathered a diverse group of stakeholders committed to transforming food systems in the Mediterranean. Eighteen civil society organisations from six countries—Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia—joined representatives from institutional partners including Morocco's Agence Nationale des Eaux et Forêts and Tunisia's Ministry of Environment. Also present were representatives from IUCN Med, AECID, FIAP, and CIHEAM Zaragoza, creating a rich environment for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
The three-day programme equipped participants with practical tools to work alongside farmers and local communities, fostering sustainable agriculture, food security, and ecosystem resilience through nature-based solutions.
Day one: foundations in Nature-based Solutions
The opening day focused on building foundational knowledge for civil society organisation project coordinators. Participants delved into the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS), exploring how these approaches can be systematically applied in agricultural contexts. Sessions covered holistic water management, integrating both NbS and traditional knowledge systems, whilst land health monitoring techniques were introduced to support the agroecological transition.
Day two: from theory to practice
The second day bridged conceptual frameworks with practical application. Morning sessions explored how value chains can be strengthened to support sustainable, NbS-oriented food systems whilst promoting resilient livelihoods. One of the highlights was the introduction to MEDAE—the Mediterranean Multi-Actor Network on Agroecology, a key outcome of the NATAE project.
MEDAE serves as a regional platform that stimulates collaboration and joint projects, promotes knowledge exchange and solutions, and represents Mediterranean agroecology on the international stage. By connecting with MEDAE, civil society organisations and partners from the Mubadarat network have access to a broader regional community working towards agroecological transition.
The afternoon took participants beyond the classroom for several field visits. The group explored the botanical garden of the Agri-Food Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA) which focuses on weed and pest management, observed agroecological practices including direct sowing in Perdiguera, and visited Biosanz, a family-run organic farm producing fruit using sustainable methods. These practical experiences illustrated the vital connections between sustainable farming, local communities, and resilient ecosystems.
Day three: from learning to action
The final day centred on transforming ideas into actionable projects. Participants reflected on how civil society organisations can strengthen local value chains to create opportunities for communities, build partnerships that support resilience and sustainability, and ensure the inclusion of women and youth to make projects more equitable and impactful.
The afternoon was dedicated to collaborative group work, where organisations synthesised the three days' learnings to design community-driven projects. These initiatives incorporated Nature-based Solutions, integrated value chain approaches, social inclusion principles, and practical monitoring tools to track change on the ground.
A foundation for future action
The training concluded with a collective restitution session that showcased the remarkable motivation of participants. Equipped with new tools, frameworks, and connections, attendees departed with a commitment to applying their learning alongside farmers and local communities across the Mediterranean.
This training event represents an important step in building a network of civil society organisations equipped to drive the sustainable transformation of food systems, strengthening both ecological resilience and community wellbeing throughout the region.