The Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Marco Riccardo Rusconi, participated in the fourth edition of the Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week 2024, organized by CIHEAM Bari. This annual event serves as a gathering point for organizations, start-ups, companies, and institutions to discuss the future of sustainable food systems in the Mediterranean and Africa, with a particular focus on young people.
On November 28, Rusconi took part in the panel “Open Inno-vision of Businesses in the Mediterranean and Africa,” emphasizing the crucial role of innovation, training, and international collaboration in the sustainable development of food systems and local economies. “Talking about start-ups means recognizing three essential pillars for the future of the Mediterranean and Africa: youth, innovation, and knowledge,” highlighted Director Rusconi. “Africa’s strength lies in its youth. Providing them with training opportunities is not only essential for their personal future but also for fostering the prosperity of their communities and countries. Italian Cooperation continues to support this transformation, facilitating tools and resources for equitable and sustainable growth.”
The day also marked the inauguration of the new “International Hub for Training and Innovation” of CIHEAM Bari, spearheaded by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli. The hub was funded with a €6.5 million contribution from Italian Cooperation to create and develop an ecosystem open to innovation and the transfer of skills and technologies.
“The establishment of the hub is yet another example of the Government’s commitment to addressing the growing need among young people to acquire skills suited to a labor market increasingly oriented towards ecological transition and sustainable food systems, starting with the African continent,” commented Deputy Minister Cirielli. He emphasized that CIHEAM, particularly its Bari Institute, is a “key partner of Italian Cooperation in implementing the Mattei Plan, as a center of excellence in training and rural development.”
“The future belongs to young people, but it requires vision, courage, and tools. With initiatives like this, we are paving the way for a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative tomorrow,” concluded AICS Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi.
