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 IPROMO mountain course focuses on agrifood systems and mountain products09.07.2024The seventeenth annual IPROMO training course successfully concluded on 8 July 2024 after two weeks of immersive learning dedicated to sustainable mountain development on-site learning in Ormea and Val d'Aosta, in the Italian Alps. This year's emphasis on promoting agrifood systems and mountain products brought 28 practitioners from 20 countries to participate in the course. To recognize their dedication, each attendee received a diploma during a closing ceremony in Biella, Italy, along with 40 credit hours for completing the course. "Thank you to the IPROMO 2024 participants, scientific directors and course managers. This annual course is part of the Mountain Partnership's efforts to build capacity on the sustainable management of mountain areas and improve mountain people's livelihoods," said Rosalaura Romeo, Coordinator of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, congratulating everyone involved in the organization of this year's programme. This year's lecturers gathered university professors and experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other organizations from Italy, Finland, Nepal, Peru and Switzerland. The 28 participants came from Bhutan, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Rwanda and Tajikistan. "We talked about sustainable agrifood systems and value chains in mountains, but also about climate change, water, communication techniques and how to preserve mountain soils," says Professor Michele Freppaz, scientific director of the summer school. On 7 July, a visit to the pastures and high-altitude environments of Gressoney La Trinité and Alagna-Valsesia was organized in collaboration with the Institut Agricole Régional of Val d'Aosta. On 8 July, the course moved to the Biellese area to explore local mountain products, including visits to production facilities such as Acqua Lauretana, the Botalla Formaggi 4.0 cheese factory, and Birra Menabrea, along with the MeBo - Menabrea and Botalla Museum. "We are honoured to be able to host the summer school and to show international experts our distinctive features," commented Giovanni Vietti, President of Unione Industriale Biellese and Head of Lauretana. "The Biellese region has much to offer, not only in the textile sector for which it is world-renowned, but also in other sectors such as food and beverage, which are deeply connected to the territory and tied to tourism development. From cheese to beer, not forgetting wine and other excellences in various fields, the 'taste of Biellese' represents a growing industry and a uniqueness that is often yet to be discovered." Participants will leave this experience enriched with newfound knowledge and an invaluable network of mountain experts and peers from across the globe. "I am truly inspired by programmes like IPROMO that encourage us to transcend national and religious boundaries. Courses like IPROMO address critical issues such as climate change and food insecurity, highlighting the vital role that mountains play in tackling these challenges," said Dorji Om, Gender Programme Officer, FAO Bhutan Country Office. "By bringing together individuals from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds to focus on challenges that transcend local realities and impact lives and livelihoods in mountain ecosystems worldwide, IPROMO successfully raises awareness about the global issues of climate change and sustainability. Additionally, it creates an international network of mutual support grounded in empirical knowledge and hands-on experience," said Roxana-Talida Roman, Counsellor – International Relations Office, Maramureș County Council, Romania. "Through my participation in IPROMO, I have gained a profound understanding of the relationship between Indigenous mountain communities, their environment, livelihoods, and cultural heritage. I am eager to return home to Malawi to train local farmers in sustainable agriculture practices, value addition, and marketing. Additionally, I look forward to collaborating with communities as we strive toward biodiversity conservation and the restoration of Malawi's 'island in the sky,' Mt Mulanje," said Anganite Sibale, Project Officer, Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust, Malawi. "This experience has significantly enriched my knowledge and equipped me to better serve mountain communities. If I am able to bring a smile to a community in Nepal by implementing what I have learned through IPROMO, the credit undoubtedly goes to this invaluable programme," said Salina Kadal, Forest Officer, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Nepal. "I have gained diverse perspectives and solutions in mountain agrifood systems. I will use this knowledge to strengthen my organization's initiatives in the Andes where we collaborate with mountain pastoralist communities to develop a regenerative grazing model that integrates their local ecological knowledge with sustainable pasture management," said Fernando Iglesias Letelier, Executive Director, Andean Conservancy, Chile. "This course was extremely important to me to understand the global scenario of mountain systems, to meet international colleagues and to build meaningful networks. I highly recommend this for all future participants passionate about working with mountain ecosystems," said Nandan, Chief Operating Officer, Last Forest Enterprises Pvt Ltd, India. IPROMO is jointly organized by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, the University of Turin, Italy, and the University of Tuscia, Italy, with the high patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The course was chaired by Danilo Godone of the National Research Council – Research Institute for Hydrogeological Prevention and Protection, a member of the Mountain Partnership.
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