Between 1975 and 1988 Miguel Mut Catalá was Director of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza, known today as CIHEAM Zaragoza. Following the sad news of his passing on 17 March, we convey our sincere condolences to his family and take this opportunity to pay tribute to Miguel and highlight the contribution he has made to our institution.

Miguel was born in 1938 in Benimeli, a village surrounded by citrus trees in the county of Marina Alta, Alicante. He obtained a doctorate in agricultural engineering and specialized in agricultural economics in Hannover (Germany) and Newcastle (United Kingdom). He continued to pursue these topics of interest throughout his career, focusing on economics, marketing and agricultural markets.

He embarked upon his professional journey in Zaragoza at the agricultural research and development at the Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario del Ebro, situated on the Campus of Aula Dei. He was director of the Centre which, upon accreditation from CIHEAM in 1969, became the institute of this intergovernmental body in Spain.

His time as director was marked by a close professional rapport and mutual comprehension with Ramón Esteruelas, founder and first president of the international body between 1962 and 1983. Miguel’s mandate spanned thirteen years, during which he forged the Institute’s working model that still prevails today, basing the training offer on guest lecturers chosen for their excellence, and providing English and French interpretation.

As director, he played a decisive role in the creation of the Master in Agro-food Marketing, and to the Masters in Seed Production and Animal Production (Breeding, Nutrition and Reproduction). He also established the training offer in citriculture. Besides academics, he also paid special attention to the economic management side, skilfully balancing the budget to incorporate information technologies for the first time, and personally developing an accountancy program and databases. Miguel’s ability to foster a harmonious working relationship with the guest lecturers was undoubtedly a key factor in upholding the Institute’s excellence in training.

Following his time at the Institute, he returned to Valencia where he took over as director of the agricultural research institute Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), from 1988 to 1993.

Miguel was a magnificent person. In all the posts he held, he left his mark of commitment with education and training, which he considered to be fundamental elements of genuine social progress. I had the opportunity to meet him in 2022 when I visited him one spring day at his place of retirement in a village near Alicante where he tended his orange orchards. We spent a very pleasant afternoon sitting on the veranda of his country home, accompanied by the aroma of orange blossom, engaged in conversation and sharing memories. When we parted we had agreed to continue chatting about the Institute over a tasty Valencian paella. Unfortunately this second encounter was not to be.

Rest in peace, Miguel. You have been a source of inspiration to those of us arriving at CIHEAM Zaragoza in later years. We will strive to carry forward the excellent work that you began at this international organization, which is still as necessary today as it was during its foundational years so many years ago.

Raúl Compés López
Director of CIHEAM Zaragoza