🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Food sovereignty requires refocusing on farmers and territories, expert says
via Le Matin9 min read
Soufiane Bouchakour, an expert, states that drought is now a structural element of agriculture, not a cyclical event. He emphasizes that the current exceptionally rainy season, with dams at 72.1% capacity compared to 36.6% a year ago, should not lead to complacency regarding adaptation efforts. Bouchakour proposes three key changes for agricultural policies: prioritizing water usage for strategic food security crops like cereals and legumes over water-intensive export crops; shifting towards conservation agriculture and improved rainfed agriculture, including direct seeding, soil cover, and drought-tolerant varieties; and revising agricultural zoning to match crops with agroclimatic regions, supported by financial aid for reconversion. He also suggests strengthening sovereignty over basic products, maintaining export positions for high-value, low-water-consuming sectors, and accelerating the use of unconventional water resources, citing the national roadmap's goal of 1.7 billion cubic meters per year of desalinated water by 2030. Bouchakour criticizes current aid mechanisms for livestock, noting their ineffectiveness despite significant investment, leading to national herd erosion and increased meat prices. He identifies three weaknesses: aid is often short-term for structural problems, poorly targeted, and lacks traceability and accountability. He advocates for counter-cyclical aid, including generalized multi-risk climate insurance and stabilization funds. To better structu
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A friendly football match between Morocco's Atlas Lions and El Salvador, originally scheduled for June 3 in the United States, has been canceled. The president of the Salvadoran Football Federation, Yamil Bukele, confirmed the cancellation via a statement on his X account on Wednesday. The primary reason for the cancellation is the inability to assemble the full Moroccan squad on time, as several key players are committed to their clubs until the end of May. Bukele stated that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation informed them it would not have its full squad available from May 29 as planned. To avoid outright cancellation, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation proposed rescheduling the match to June 2 in Morocco, offering to cover all travel expenses for the Salvadoran team. While the Salvadoran federation appreciated the offer, it was rejected due to FIFA regulations prohibiting playing on two different continents during the same international window. Additionally, El Salvador already has two friendly matches scheduled for that period. This cancellation occurs at a critical time for the Moroccan national team, less than two months before the start of the 2026 World Cup. However, the rest of their preparation schedule remains intact, including a confirmed match against Norway on June 7 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. Both federations are now seeking alternative opponents to fill the gap in their schedules. The Atlas Lions, current African champions,
Must ReadPratt & Whitney Canada officially opened its new production facility in the Midparc industrial zone in Nouaceur on April 21. This strategic investment, valued at $76 million, spans nearly 12,000 square meters for production within a total site of over 27,000 square meters. The plant will manufacture complex static and structural components for engine families including the PT6, PW500, PW300, and GTF series. This move aims to strengthen Pratt & Whitney's global supply chain and meet increasing demand for aircraft engines. The facility incorporates advanced machining equipment, digital systems, and lean manufacturing principles. The project currently employs nearly 80 people, with a goal of approximately 200 by 2030, supported by technical training programs to develop local skills. The choice of Morocco was based on its competitive environment, access to skilled talent, and developing industrial ecosystem. RTX, Pratt & Whitney's parent company, already has a presence in Morocco through Collins Aerospace since 2012, and this new plant further expands its local footprint. The company views this as a strategic extension of its global industrial network and a means to build more resilient supply chains, contributing to local economic development.
Luxembourg's Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, will lead a high-level economic delegation to Morocco from May 4 to 7, 2026. This mission aims to strengthen the already robust economic ties between the two nations. The delegation will include the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and approximately twenty companies from various sectors, seeking to foster direct exchanges with Moroccan partners and identify new investment opportunities. This comes as Morocco sees an increase in structuring projects, particularly in infrastructure, industry, and telecommunications. Luxembourg is among the top ten foreign investors in Morocco, while Morocco is a dynamic partner for the Grand Duchy in Africa. A Morocco-Luxembourg Economic Forum will be held on May 5, 2026, in partnership with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises CGEM, bringing together business leaders to discuss joint investment projects and concrete collaborations. This visit marks the fourth major official mission between the two countries in less than ten years, underscoring their shared commitment to a long-term economic partnership based on mutual interests.
Mediterrania Capital Partners MCP has acquired Amcor Flexibles Mohammedia AFM, a Moroccan company specializing in flexible packaging solutions. Located in Mohammedia, AFM manufactures packaging for the dairy, pharmaceutical, food, and hygiene industries. The company has an industrial heritage dating back to 1949 and has been part of the Amcor group since 2010. MCP's acquisition aligns with its strategy to invest in leading mid-sized African companies to support their growth. MCP highlights AFM's potential for diversifying its offerings and client base within a resilient sector. The new shareholder plans to build upon AFM's achievements under Amcor, accelerate growth through targeted investments, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen governance. Maintaining high safety and quality standards is also a priority. MCP intends to collaborate with existing management to expand production capacity, broaden product offerings, and diversify the client portfolio, aiming to position AFM as a leading industrial platform for flexible packaging in Morocco and the wider region. With over 1.2 billion euros in assets under management and a presence in various African and international hubs, Mediterrania Capital Partners is expanding its industrial footprint in Morocco. This transaction underscores Morocco's appeal to international investors and the growing role of private equity in transforming the national industrial landscape.