Mediterranean in transition

Mediterranean in Transition: Agroecology Changing Territories

Agroecology is moving beyond being just an idea and becoming a concrete force reshaping the way we farm, manage land, and address climate change.
In the Mediterranean, a mosaic of agricultural traditions and environmental challenges, this green revolution is already underway… and the recent large turnout at the 1st International Congress of Mediterranean Agroecology (AEMED2025), held in Agrigento from June 9 to 12, 2025, is powerful evidence of how this vision is gaining momentum.
The lure of Agrigento—with its millennia-old history—transformed those days into a true laboratory of the future, where scientists, farmers, and activists engaged in dialogue about agroecological practices that can shape a regenerative Mediterranean.

Laws and Regulations: So Much Potential, So Few Standards –
Surprisingly, despite growing political interest, most Mediterranean countries still lack a national law on agroecology.
France is the most advanced country in this direction, with a concrete strategy and tools.
In Spain and Italy, agroecological elements are integrated into policies, but without a unified framework.
The Sicilian Region is an exception to this, with a law dedicated to providing indications and guidelines for the agroecological transition (Regional Law 21 of July 29, 2021).
In the Maghreb (Morocco and Tunisia), agroecological principles are included in public programs, but without specific regulations.
In the Middle East, local initiatives and resilience projects are well-known and operational, rather than formal laws. Other countries (Malta, Cyprus, Libya, the Balkans): almost total absence of regulation.
But the fact that Agrigento was chosen as the venue for the AEMED conference is no coincidence: Sicily, with its regional law, offers a sort of “pilot model” for the entire Mediterranean basin (and beyond). The event highlighted how local excellence can generate broader political momentum, suggesting that the lack of regulations is not only a barrier, but also an opportunity to develop truly participatory legislation.

In the field, agroecology is advancing faster –
While legislation is slow to take off, field practices are growing rapidly: territorial networks and agroecological districts in Spain and Italy (Valle dei Templi Agroecological Biodistrict); farmer cooperatives and participatory guarantee systems in Morocco and Tunisia; climate adaptation projects in Egypt and Israel; and food resilience initiatives in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories. The most active countries are France, Spain, Italy (Sicily at the forefront), Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. Further behind: Libya, Syria, Monaco, Malta, Gibraltar, and Cyprus.
At the AEMED 2025 congress, farmers from across the Mediterranean region conducted farm visits (day 11), demonstrating their practices firsthand—from agroforestry systems to regenerative methods. This has given a concrete face to the agroecological transition, demonstrating that it is not just a theory, but a reality operating in very different territories.

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Governance: A Multi-Speed ​​Mediterranean –
Governance structures show marked differences: solid in France, Sicily, and partially Morocco; evolving in Tunisia, Egypt, Greece; weak or fragmented in much of the Middle East, the Balkans, Malta, Cyprus, and Libya. In many cases, agroecology advances thanks to NGOs, farmer networks, universities, and international cooperation, rather than state initiative.
In this regard, AEMED2025 was an extraordinary demonstration of bottom-up governance: over 400 participants from 28 countries took part, ranging from plenary sessions to thematic workshops, to co-create guiding documents—scientific, technical, and political—that can truly fuel transnational initiatives.
This plurality of voices reaffirmed that leadership in the agroecological Mediterranean lies not only with governments, but also with communities, movements, and researchers who engage in dialogue.
5 trends reshaping the Mediterranean –
– Rebirth of urban and peri-urban food systems.
– Greater attention to agricultural biodiversity.
– Expansion of agroecological districts and networks.
– Key role of NGOs in North Africa and the Middle East.
Remaining almost total lack of formal legal recognition.
AEMED2025 embodied many of these trends: workshops on biodiversity, agroforestry, regenerative practices, and governance highlighted how the transition is truly moving from local communities to structured, shared, and ambitious proposals.

5 priorities to accelerate the transition –
To boost Mediterranean agroecology, concrete actions are needed: incorporating agroecology into national regulatory frameworks; strengthening the most dynamic local networks; integrating agroecology into technical and agricultural training programs; creating Mediterranean exchange platforms to share experiences; and developing common indicators to monitor impacts and progress.
The AEMED2025 Congress provided decisive impetus to these very priorities: during the final roundtables, a proposal emerged for documents that will serve as guidelines for the future—a true starting point for transforming social experimentation into structured policies.
A Mediterranean that experiments and innovates –
Despite differences between countries, agroecology is growing “from the bottom up,” driven by local communities, farmer networks, and new ecological sensibilities. The next challenge? Transforming this social energy into structured and coordinated policies, to make the Mediterranean a leading laboratory for the global agroecological transition.
This is where the AEMED2025 fits in strongly: as the first international congress dedicated to Mediterranean agroecology, it was not just a moment of discussion, but of a genuine union between science, movement, and practice.
The hope is that this mobilization will not remain isolated, but will become the backbone of a stable Mediterranean network, capable of generating policies, innovations, and shared projects.

Guido Bissanti