Agriculture ministers from Morocco, Portugal, France, and Côte d'Ivoire launch discussions at SIAM in Meknes
via Le Matin7 min read
Agriculture ministers from Morocco, Portugal, France, and Côte d'Ivoire have initiated discussions at the 18th International Agricultural Show in Morocco SIAM in Meknes. The event, taking place on April 21, 2026, marks the official start of debates among the participating nations.
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The Atlas Lionesses have advanced four places in the latest FIFA women's rankings, now holding the 4th position in Africa with 1402.88 points. This improvement follows three friendly match victories. Nigeria leads the African rankings at 36th globally, followed by South Africa 58th and Ghana 59th. Zambia remains at 64th worldwide, completing the continental top five. Globally, 276 qualifying matches for the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027 have been played across all confederations except CAF since the last ranking in December 2025. Spain maintains its lead since August 2025, despite a loss to England, which moved up to 3rd place, pushing Germany to 4th. The United States remains 2nd after two friendly wins and one loss to Japan. Japan made the biggest leap in the top 10, rising three places to 5th, thanks to six qualifying victories and a friendly win against the United States. Sweden dropped three places to 8th due to poor results. North Korea exited the top 10, replaced by the Netherlands, which re-entered at 10th. Several countries achieved their highest-ever rankings, including Turkey 51st, El Salvador 78th, Kosovo 81st, Nepal 87th, and Saudi Arabia 160th. American Samoa also made a significant jump, climbing 17 spots to 120th. The British Virgin Islands have been removed from the rankings, reducing the total number of ranked teams from 198 to 197, as they have not fielded a women's team for four years. The next FIFA women's world ranking will be published on June 16,
France is participating in the 18th International Agricultural Show in Morocco SIAM, held from April 20 to 28, 2026, in Meknes, with a dedicated Pavilion. The French Pavilion showcases diverse expertise in agriculture, covering animal and plant genetics, agricultural equipment, irrigation solutions, agritech, and organic farming. This involvement follows the 2024 agricultural framework agreement between the two countries, which structured bilateral relations around shared priorities such as food security, sustainable water management, climate change adaptation, and agroecological transition. Trade between France and Morocco highlights the strength of this relationship; in 2024, Morocco imported 1.9 million tons of soft wheat from France, establishing France as a key supplier in the Moroccan cereal market. Beyond trade, France's participation in SIAM 2026 also seeks to foster concrete collaborations between economic actors. Personalized B2B meetings are organized within the French Pavilion to facilitate partnerships and explore new opportunities. These meetings are coordinated by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Morocco CFCIM as part of the Team France Export strategy. Through this structured presence, France aims to strengthen its position as a strategic partner for Morocco in the agricultural sector, supporting the sector's evolution in addressing sustainability and food sovereignty challenges.
Carlos Alcaraz, the world number two and two-time Grand Slam winner, was named Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards, held for the third consecutive time in Madrid. Currently recovering from a right wrist injury, Alcaraz stated he would not rush his return to the courts, even for Roland Garros next month, where he is the defending champion. Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian world number one, received the Sportswoman of the Year award. British Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris, who won his first title in 2025, was recognized as the World Breakthrough of the Year, ahead of PSG's Golden Boy Désiré Doué. Paris Saint-Germain, which secured its first European star in 2025, was named Team of the Year after achieving a historic sextuple, winning Ligue 1, the Champions League, the Coupe de France, the Trophée des champions, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. FC Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, who was the revelation of the year in 2025, also won an award for the best young global athlete.
At the 18th International Agricultural Show in Morocco SIAM, held from April 20 to 28, 2026, OCP is presenting an integrated agricultural model that connects soil health to livestock farming. The company's pavilion highlights the central role of phosphorus in agricultural systems, linking soil fertility, crop growth, forage quality, and livestock performance. OCP emphasizes that animal production is inseparable from soil and crop quality, as livestock feed quality depends on forage, which in turn relies on fertile land and precise nutrient application. The group has shifted its strategy from standardized fertilization to a customized approach, adapting to the specific needs of each soil and crop. This precision fertilization, based on the "4R" principle right nutrient, right dose, right time, right place, aims to improve fertilizer efficiency, reduce losses, and minimize environmental impact. OCP's presence at SIAM also extends to animal nutrition, with indirect contributions through improved forage crops and direct solutions for livestock feed, such as the Phosfeed® range from its subsidiary SPS. These dietary phosphates aim to enhance animal health and productivity. Additionally, solutions like reactive phosphate rock improve soil fertility in challenging contexts, such as acidic zones, boosting pasture productivity and livestock system resilience. OCP's actions are driven by the dual goals of increasing food production to meet growing demands while reducing agriculture's e