Meeting with MED-Amin, which works with the Multilateral Initiative AMIS (Agricultural Market Information System) in Rome, FAO and the European Commission, recently, the organisation presented recent developments in its grain policies and discussed outlooks on global and regional markets.
450 million consumers of cereals and bread
The 13 member States of CIHEAM (Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey) make up about 6% of the world population, with nearly 450 million inhabitants who are major consumers of cereals and bread.
Between 2011-2013, MED-Amin found the 13 States represent on average: 9% of cultivated areas of soft wheat on the planet (18 million hectares); 41% of the cultivated area of durum wheat in the world (7 million hectares) and 48% of the world production of durum wheat (17 million tonnes).
They account for 27% of global wheat imports (41 million tonnes); 3% of the corn areas in the world (5 million hectares); 23% of world corn imports (25 million tonnes); 22% of cultivated areas in barley in the world (11 million hectares) and 10% of world barley imports (35 million tonnes).
Cosimo Lacirignola, secretary general, CIHEAM, believes it is important to strengthen the MED-Amin network to build a common future in the Mediterranean and to strengthen food security.
“The centrality of the subject treated by MED-Amin outlines both the importance of having better understanding of the market dynamics, but also the centrality of cereals in the Mediterranean region,” he said.
“These productions are essential for the life of the populations and for the economies of the countries of the zone. Alongside olive oil and other iconic foods, it could even be said that wheat is part of the common identity of the Mediterranean area.”
Cereal balances & short-term market forecasts
Network members agreed future MED-Amin activities should focus on the countries capacity to produce cereal balances and short-term market forecasts.
It was decided to develop a Policy brief for decision makers on the grain situation in the Mediterranean, to update the grain statistics collected, to produce twice a year reports on harvesting and planting progress, to continue communication and watch activities, and to accentuate those on capacity building, training, surveys and research. Links with the private sector should be consolidated.
According to a report by Sébastien Abis, general secretariat, CIHEAM; François Luguenot Union InVivo, France, and Pierre Rayé Union InVivo, France, called Trade and Logistics: The Case of the Grains Sector; the Mediterranean region is dependent on external supplies and this tendency will grow in the coming years.
“The Mediterranean is inevitably forced to better control the costs of its grain purchases. This can be achieved by giving priority to securing imports (financial capacity, relations with suppliers and market operators) and optimising the sector’s logistics,” it said.
“Being essential for southern and eastern Mediterranean countries, this challenge aims at reducing losses, enhancing storage capacity, overcoming the domestic production deficit, facilitating the transport of grain and limiting the financial burden dedicated to the purchase of grain.
“If awareness seems to have been raised during the past years, logistics require the mobilisation of material resources on the long term to be efficient, modern and competitive.
“Far from resolving all issues, logistics can reduce food and political risks. By matching supply and demand, it can facilitate the trade of this strategic product while promoting international technical cooperation. This is a field for a mutually beneficial partnership between the Mediterranean shores.”
CIHEAM promotes multilateral cooperation in the Mediterranean in the fields of agriculture, food, fishery and rural territories. It pursues cooperation through specialised training, research, scientific diplomacy and political partnership.
Approximately 170 agents and hundreds of consultants work within the five headquarters of the Organisation: the 4 Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes (MAI) based in Bari (Italy), Chania (Greece), Montpellier (France), and Zaragoza (Spain); the General Secretariat is located in Paris (France).
The network will hold its fourth meeting in 2016 in Tunisia.