Agricultural History Review, Volume 65 Part 2 (2017), pp. 254–276

This article examines the origins of the International Institute of Agriculture, looking at the campaign launched by the Italian government for the establishment of an international chamber of agriculture, which was discussed at a conference held in Rome in May 1905. This article challenges the ‘traditional tale’ of the birth of the earliest international organization in the primary sector by focusing on the reformist group that supported David Lubin’s initial idea. In parallel with the diplomatic negotiations, Italian experts were sent to the most important European countries to build support for conference. Their reports make it possible to observe the mobilization of agricultural cooperatives and unions in support of the project. Although it was suggested at this stage that the national organizations would be able to participate directly, the solution of establishing the International Institute of Agriculture as an intergovernmental body was finally chosen. This led to the creation of parallel bodies representing producers, but the initial concern to unify agriculturalists beyond national borders remained an underlying theme throughout the history of the Institute between 1905 and 1946. 

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