Vocational training, applied research and knowledge exchange are at the heart of new cooperation opportunities between CIHEAM Bari and Damascus University, with a focus on agricultural development and the needs of local communities in Syria.

How can technical expertise, practical training and applied research contribute to agricultural development and strengthen local communities? This question was at the centre of the visit to CIHEAM Bari by a delegation from Damascus University, led by its President, Dr. Moustafa Sayem El Daher, accompanied by Dr. Khaled Al Asas, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, and Mr. Abdul Salam Zidan, Director of the International Relations Office.

The visit provided an opportunity to identify practical areas of cooperation, building on the exchange of expertise and experiences to address challenges affecting agricultural and rural communities in Syria.

A key step was the signing of a Letter of Intent between CIHEAM Bari and Damascus University, establishing a framework for future joint activities. These include vocational training, scholarship opportunities for young Syrian technicians and researchers, and field-oriented research aimed at strengthening local food security and agricultural resilience. The initiative seeks to connect technical knowledge with the needs of local territories, supporting the development of skills and solutions that can be applied in the field.

The programme continued at CIHEAM Bari’s branch in Tricase, where the delegation visited the Food4Health Laboratory & Hub. The visit offered an opportunity to explore approaches to sustainable food production and opportunities to enhance the olive oil value chain. A field visit in Salento focused on the management of Xylella fastidiosa, with particular attention to containment measures and agricultural land restoration. These experiences provided practical examples that could inform future exchanges and activities addressing agricultural challenges in Syria.

The delegation also met with the Vice-Rector of the University of Bari Aldo Moro to explore potential synergies and broader opportunities for collaboration between the institutions.

By bringing together universities, technical expertise and field experience, CIHEAM Bari contributes to creating connections that can support future training and research initiatives, strengthen local capacities and respond to the development needs of Syrian agricultural communities.