News in Brief:
– Morocco and France have deepened their agricultural partnership through new agreements focusing on education and technology.
– The collaboration emphasises sustainable practices and resource efficiency.
Morocco and France have significantly strengthened their agricultural and agri-food cooperation, solidifying their partnership with new agreements signed at the International Agricultural Show in Paris, where Morocco was the honoured guest.
These agreements prioritise enhanced training for Moroccan students, the development of robust AgriTech partnerships, and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.
A pivotal moment in this strengthened alliance was the bilateral meeting between Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Ahmed El Bouari, and France’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Annie Genevard.
This meeting culminated in an agreement designed to bolster training opportunities for Moroccan students pursuing studies in agronomy, veterinary science, and forestry.
Effectively, the Opération Stage 250 initiative, born from this agreement, will facilitate internships and study trips to France. It builds upon the foundation laid by a broader framework agreement established in November 2024.
Advancing AgriTech collaboration
A key focus of the collaboration is the advancement of AgriTech. To this end, a strategic partnership has been formed between the Digital Farm initiative and the Digital Hub of the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture.
Expectedly, this collaboration will drive the exchange of agricultural technologies, skills, and expertise, with a particular emphasis on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data. The idea is to optimise resource management and enhance agricultural efficiency.
Overall, both nations have placed a strong emphasis on promoting sustainable agricultural practices and addressing shared challenges within sectors such as oilseeds, livestock, and fruits and vegetables. They have committed to working together to ensure sanitary and phytosanitary safety.
Notably, Minister El Bouari underscored Morocco’s dedication to digitalisation through its Green Generation Strategy 2020-2030, which aims to optimise resource utilisation, improve product traceability, and facilitate market access.
A central objective is to achieve greater productivity with fewer resources through the strategic implementation of technological advancements.
Meanwhile, in a gesture of reciprocal recognition for France’s hospitality, Morocco will honor France at the forthcoming International Agricultural Show of Meknes (SIAM), scheduled for April 21-27.
