• With the support of INIA-CSIC, CIHEAM Zaragoza organised an international seminar on 15 and 16 November to address the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from agrifood systems in the Mediterranean Basin and other parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate

Mediterranean agrifood systems not only emit greenhouse gases contributing to climate change but also bear the direct consequences, such as water scarcity and rising temperatures. In the light of the challenges shared by the countries of the region and other parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate, CIHEAM Zaragoza leads efforts to promote the first scientific and institutional network for climate change mitigation in Mediterranean agrifood systems. 

Within the framework of a seminar at the Spanish headquarters of CIHEAM, representatives of international organisations (FAO, OECD, European Commission, among others) and experts from 11 countries of the Mediterranean Basin (Albania, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Türkiye), have explored solutions for the development of more sustainable and resilient agrifood systems in the region and moving forward in the creation of the new network.

CIHEAM Zaragoza has organised this international seminar on 15 and 16 November in collaboration with the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology of the Spanish National Research Council (INIA-CSIC) in the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).

When speaking about the creation of the network, CIHEAM Zaragoza’s director, Raúl Compés, has explained: “Given the complexity of the current climate crisis, the differences between countries in making precise estimations of emissions, and the shared need to identify, validate and test adaptive mitigation strategies, we need to take joint actions to support research, encourage the exchange of knowledge on these issues and improve research capacity in all Mediterranean countries”.

Mitigation from Mediterranean agriculture and food production systems

The seminar has addressed climate change mitigation in the Mediterranean agrifood systems from the dual perspective of science and institutions. As highlighted during these sessions, climate action measures in the primary sector require an integrated focus that includes improvement of agricultural techniques and livestock management, sustainable land management practices, as well as the adoption of renewable energies and support policies.

The experts have underlined the importance of a precise quantification of greenhouse gas emissions in the region. José Luis Gabriel, researcher from INIA-CSIC, has spoken in the seminar on the current status of scientific knowledge in calculating emissions and mitigation. “Continuous monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions enables researchers, agricultural policy-makers and producers to make informed decisions and apply appropriate mitigation measures to reduce the GHG emissions in Mediterranean agrifood systems”.

Video recordings of the GHG emissions in agriculture seminar

The video recordings of the following open sessions from the International Seminar "Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change Mitigation in Mediterranean Agricultural Sectors" are available on CIHEAM Zaragoza YouTube channel:

• Climate Change and Mediterranean Agriculture - Ana Iglesias (UPM/CEIGRAM)
• Emissions Quantification and Mitigation Strategies. Livestock Systems - Harry Clark (New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre)
• Emissions Quantification and Mitigation Strategies. Cropping Systems - José Luis Gabriel (INIA-CSIC)
• Spanish Strategy for Climate Change in Agricultural Sectors - Esperanza Orellana (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Spain)

About CIHEAM Zaragoza

The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), founded in 1962, is an intergovernmental organisation made up of 13 Member states (Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Türkiye) fostering international cooperation in agriculture and food.

CIHEAM Zaragoza was founded in 1969, and provides quality and excellence in training and enhances research and international cooperation through research project management. Current activities focus on the following areas of expertise: sustainable agrifood systems; fisheries and aquaculture; water, soil and ecosystems; forest management; and territorial and inclusive development.