Renowned for its cereal cultivation (wheat, barley, etc.), the region of Fez-Meknes has been chosen to host the 15th edition of the International Agricultural Show in Morocco (SIAM). The meeting, which will be held from 2 to 7 May 2023, is organised by the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing, Rural Development and Water and Forests and will have as its theme “Generation Green: for sustainable food sovereignty”.
During six days of conferences and exhibitions, the 900,000 expected participants, including 1,400 exhibitors from 65 countries, will examine innovations in agro-ecology and sustainable development, in this case the new techniques of intelligent agriculture explored by the United Kingdom, which is the guest of honour at this show. Indeed, Siam will take place in a context marked by food insecurity, particularly in East and West Africa, where drought is threatening people’s livelihoods.
In Morocco, where water stress threatens agriculture, the authorities are promoting climate resilience by encouraging initiatives in the field of sustainable food. This is the case of the AgriTech4Morroco challenge, which is supported by the Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (Icarda), the Pôle d’Agriculture Numérique (PAD) and the Moroccan branch of the German Agency for International Development Cooperation (GIZ).
Read also-MOROCCO: 10 start-ups rewarded for their innovations in sustainable agriculture
For its first edition in 2022, this competition organised by the World Bank’s Impact Lab initiative and the “Accelerating for Impact” platform rewarded 10 start-ups for their technological solutions in the agricultural sector. Among the companies awarded by AgriTech4Morocco is AgriScan. The start-up has developed portable sensors that collect soil data to help Moroccan farmers optimise their fertilisation decisions. There is also From Sand to Green, which is creating new arable land using a solar-powered desalination system and carbon offset mechanisms.
For more information on the event, click here.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi