Benguérir: Partnership Agreement to Support the Evolution of the Agricultural Sector Through Research and Innovation

Part of the implementation of the High Royal Guidelines, as well as the national agricultural strategy “Generation Green 2020-2030”, this partnership seeks to support the evolution of Morocco’s agricultural sector by mobilizing research, innovation, and skills development in the service of sustainable agriculture adapted to economic, social, and environmental constraints, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests.

This agreement aims in particular to contribute to strengthening the Kingdom’s food sovereignty, to support public agricultural policies through better use of scientific and technological advances, to develop operational responses to the effects of climate change by leveraging national expertise, and to consolidate South-South cooperation through joint projects and knowledge-sharing initiatives, the statement specifies.

The collaboration is based on several complementary areas of action, notably the strengthening of knowledge related to soil health and the adaptation of fertilization practices to the real needs of crops, the same source continues, explaining that it also includes the development of the capacities of actors in the agricultural sector through field support actions, the provision of means of production, and the strengthening of agricultural training.

The resilience of agriculture in the face of climate change constitutes another structuring axis, notably through support for programs such as direct seeding, agroforestry, the rehabilitation of legumes, the creation of pilot farms, and the promotion of sustainable water resource management, while science and technology are mobilized to encourage the development of accessible agricultural solutions adapted to farmers’ needs.

This partnership will enable better coordination between national institutions around a common agricultural research program, the establishment of new agricultural advisory models rooted in local territories, the development of agricultural training systems linked to major national schools, notably IAV Hassan II, ENA of Meknès, ENFI, and CAES-UM6P, as well as the integration of digital tools in the implementation of public agricultural policies.

It also provides for support to AgriTech solutions developed in Morocco and responding to the needs of the sector.

The signed framework agreement defines the major strategic orientations of the partnership and will be implemented through specific agreements, lasting between three and five years, covering themes such as soil health, the resilience of agriculture to climate change, applied agronomic research, agricultural training, integrated water management, and South-South cooperation.

Specific agreements will specify for each project the objectives, deliverables, implementation timelines, budgets, and the respective contributions of the parties.

Through this collaboration, the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the OCP Foundation, and UM6P reaffirm their shared commitment to a more inclusive, more innovative Moroccan agriculture that is better prepared for future developments.

This cooperation will also help strengthen Morocco’s role as a key player in South-South agricultural cooperation by promoting and sharing its experience with other countries on the continent, the statement concludes.

Editorial team/le7tv