The IIR and CIHEAM closer than ever!

On June 4, 2014 M. Cosimo Lacirignola, CIHEAM’s General Secretary and Mr Didier Coulomb, Director of the IIR, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Paris.
CIHEAM, represented by its General Secretary, Mr Cosimo Lacirignola, the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), represented by its Director, Mr Didier Coulomb, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the IIR head office in Paris on June 4, 2014.



This agreement aims at strengthening the bonds between these intergovernmental organisations who have previously led joint actions together. Both organizations firmly believe in the importance of food safety and security in the international and regional Mediterranean agenda.

Managing refrigeration related issues proves crucial for agricultural products: it conditions the quality and security of foodstuffs along the production chain, in particular during transport and commercialisation stages.


Allegedly, 30% of the global food production of animal and vegetable foodstuffs is currently lost because of the lack of early and continuous enough cooling.

Mediterranean countries must improve this crucial link in the food cold chain in order to be able to commercialize their products in favourable conditions on local, national and international markets.

More about the CIHEAM at: www.ciheam.org