From Tricase Porto to Torre Suda, Gallipoli and Castro, the Training of Trainers on sustainable aquaculture and fisheries brings together 18 professionals from Ghana, the Republic of Congo and Senegal for two weeks of learning, exchange and practical experience in Southern Italy.

Held from 14 to 25 September at the CIHEAM Bari in Tricase, the course is part of the AREA Africa Programme and focuses on sustainable production systems, fish feed management, value chains and inclusive governance for resilient aquatic food systems.

The training combines specialised technical sessions with hands-on activities, field demonstrations, interactive workshops and visits to local production and research realities. The aim is not only to strengthen technical knowledge, but also to equip participants with the skills to transfer that knowledge in their own countries.

The journey begins in Tricase Porto, where participants explore fisheries and aquaculture within wider food systems and exchange experiences from their national contexts. It then moves to the field: in Torre Suda, they observe the unloading of catches and learn more about fishing practices; in Gallipoli, they visit Reho Mariculture and Fish Processing Plant – Inmare and explore the local fishing context; in Tricase, practical sessions at the Food4Health Community Lab focus on aquaculture feeding and sustainable feed management; and in Castro, the visit to Marevivo brings participants closer to aquaculture and fish processing.

Across these different places and experiences, the training connects technical knowledge with real production systems, local practices and territorial contexts.

The participants will return to Ghana, the Republic of Congo and Senegal not only with new technical skills, but also with tools and methods to share knowledge and support further capacity building at national level. This is the multiplier approach at the heart of AREA Africa: strengthening people who can, in turn, strengthen others.

These activities are implemented by CIHEAM Bari through the AREA Africa Programme, which forms part of the Italian international cooperation initiative developed within a balanced public–private partnership framework under the Mattei Plan for Africa. The programme falls within the Action for the Strengthening of Agro-Food Ecosystems in Africa (AREA Africa), co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) with CIHEAM Bari serving as the knowledge partner and implementing body for the public component, and BFI acting as the private partner.

Cultivating knowledge. Harvesting change.