CIHEAM - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania

CIHEAM - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania was founded in 1985 and is one of the four Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes administered by the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM). The Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes of Bari (Italy), Montpellier (France) and Zaragoza (Spain) are constituent Institutes of the same organisation.

CIHEAM - MAICh provides postgraduate education leading to the degree of Master of Science. It undertakes research related to the sectors of agriculture and rural development, as well as applied biological, technological and environmental sciences, addressing to problems in the Mediterranean area.
The Mediterranean Plant Conservation Unit of CIHEAM – MAICh is involved with the study and conservation of the native, rare and endemic flora of Crete and the Mediterranean, as well as the conservation of landraces. Its main facilities are the Seed Bank, Herbarium, and Botanic Garden. It is a member of the Network of Mediterranean plant conservation centres “Genmeda” and the European Native Seed Conservation Network “Ensconet”.

Competences

• Identification and taxonomy of the Mediterranean flora
• Study, management and protection of native plants (in situ and ex situ conservation) including endemic and threatened plants, medicinal and aromatic plants, wild relatives of agricultural plants
• Participation in national and EU-funded research/cooperation projects (Interreg, LIFE, FP6, etc.) and networking
• Publications and presentations in national and international conferences, workshops, etc.
• Experience in the organisation of training and dissemination seminars, workshops, events, etc. related to the conservation of plant diversity