From 10 to 13 October 2025, the MED GIAHS project and the Málaga Raisins GIAHS site in La Axarquía participated in the First FAO Global Exhibition: From Seeds to Foods, held outdoors at Porta Capena Park in Rome on the occasion of FAO’s 80th anniversary.
The delegation was led by Fernando Fernández Tapia-Ruano, Territorial Delegate of the Andalusian Government’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, representing MED GIAHS. It also included authorities from the municipalities of Almáchar, Comares, El Borge, and Moclinejo, representing the Málaga Raisins GIAHS, as well as representatives from Trevi (Italy) for the Olive GIAHS near Assisi and Spoleto, and from the Spanish GIAHS Valle Salado de Añana and Millenary Olive Trees in the Sénia Territory.
Showcasing Mediterranean GIAHS
Under the MED GIAHS umbrella, the exhibition featured 12 FAO-recognized GIAHS —4 in Spain, 1 in Italy, 1 in Algeria, 3 in Morocco, and 3 in Tunisia— and 3 potential GIAHS (in Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro). Visitors were able to explore these territories and their unique agri-food systems, products, and cultural practices through a double stand, promotional material, and interactive displays.
Guided tastings included:
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Salt from Valle Salado de Añana (Spain) — 10 and 11 October
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Wines and raisins from the Málaga Raisins Production System in La Axarquía GIAHS site — 11 October
These tastings highlighted the traditional production methods and cultural significance of local products.
Conferences and workshops
On 11 October at 16:30, MED GIAHS organized the joint session “Discover the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Networks: MED GIAHS Project”, presented by Esperanza Perea Acosta (MED GIAHS Coordinator) and Rafael Fernández Gómez (MED GIAHS Amplification Strategy Responsible).
The session emphasized the importance of international networks for sharing solutions to common challenges faced by GIAHS sites. It also showcased the project’s flagship Joint Catalogue of Sustainable Agritourism Expegriences, which allows tourists to discover the landscapes, products, traditions, and ancestral knowledge of local communities across the Mediterranean.
Strengthening the Mediterranean Network
MED GIAHS is a territorial cooperation project funded by the Interreg Euro-Med Program, which has developed strategic documents to support GIAHS and potential GIAHS worldwide. Among these are:
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The MED GIAHS Strategy for Sustainable Agritourism
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The Joint Guide for GIAHS Action Plans
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The Joint Training Plan for GIAHS technicians and local communities
These tools support the protection, management, and promotion of GIAHS, reinforcing sustainable rural development while combining tradition, biodiversity, and innovation.
The participation of MED GIAHS in the FAO Exhibition provided international visibility for the Mediterranean GIAHS Network, highlighting agricultural heritage as a driver of culture, sustainability, and rural development.
Since 2005, FAO has designated 102 GIAHS sites in 29 countries, recognizing these systems as global reservoirs of knowledge, practices, and cultural heritage that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
