🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Morocco and France revive agricultural partnership for 2026-2027 at SIAM
via Le Matin2 min read
The Moroccan-French Joint Agricultural Committee met on April 21 at the International Agricultural Show in Morocco SIAM in Meknes, confirming the revival of a strategic partnership between the two countries. Co-chaired by Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed El Bouari, and his French counterpart, Annie Genevard, the meeting reviewed cooperation since 2024 and set new priorities. This follows a framework agreement signed in October 2024, which intensified exchanges through knowledge transfer, co-construction of projects, and networking of institutional and scientific actors. Both parties praised the results of the "2025 cross-agricultural year." Livestock farming is a central focus, with discussions on herd reconstitution, genetic improvement, and fodder resource development to adapt production systems to climate change and ensure food security. The partnership also emphasizes training, research, and health security, including mobility programs, double degrees, and collaborative research. Cooperation between ONSSA and the French Directorate General for Food DGAL has improved risk management and secured trade. Sustainable management of agricultural water and forest resources is another strategic area. New themes include the digitalization of agricultural services, youth integration in rural areas, and human capacity building. Rabat and Paris reaffirmed their goal to make this partnership an operational lever to address contemporary agricultural challenges, focusing on concre
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Austria has affirmed its support for UN Security Council Resolution 2797 concerning the Moroccan Sahara. This stance was documented in a joint communiqué adopted in Vienna following a meeting between Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, and Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, who was on a working visit to Austria. The joint communiqué also noted Austria's commendation of Resolution 2797, which fully backs the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to facilitate and conduct negotiations based on the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco. The goal is to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. Austria welcomed Morocco's willingness to clarify how autonomy within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty would be implemented. This strengthened position from Austria reinforces the growing international consensus, driven by King Mohammed VI, in favor of the Moroccan identity of the Sahara and in support of the Autonomy Initiative, which was recognized by the UN Security Council's adoption of Resolution 2797 on October 31, 2025.
Essaouira will host the 22nd edition of the Printemps Musical des Alizés from April 30 to May 3, 2026. This classical music festival, themed "dialogue," aims to celebrate music as a space for exchange and encounter. Over four days, twelve free concerts will take place in iconic Essaouira venues such as Dar Souiri, Bayt Dakira, and Salle de la Marche Verte. The festival's program is designed to be both accessible and demanding, appealing to both novices and experienced classical music enthusiasts. The opening concert will feature a piano trio, including pianist Lucas Debargue, alongside David and Alexandre Castrobalbi. Beyond the concerts, the festival emphasizes transmission through initiatives like the Matinée Jeunes Talents, which highlights a new generation of musicians, and the Alizés Conducting Academy, offering young conductors the opportunity to lead the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra. The theme of dialogue will also be explored through various formats, from the musical show "Le pianiste aux cinquante doigts" to symphonic evenings comparing Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. A musical walk through the medina is also planned. Created in 2001, the Printemps Musical des Alizés is recognized as the only classical music festival in Morocco, known for its intimate atmosphere and program quality. Supported by the Ténor Foundation for Culture and the Essaouira Mogador Association, it has contributed to the cultural influence of Essaouira, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for over two
At SIAM 2026, Maroc Telecom is highlighting digital solutions for the agricultural sector, leveraging IoT, artificial intelligence, and fintech. These Agritech solutions combine IoT, data analytics, and AI to collect and centralize data on secure platforms, aiming to improve decision-making through real-time monitoring of agricultural resources, optimized irrigation, and efficient energy management. The tools also include analytical systems to anticipate risks and provide recommendations. Maroc Telecom's stand featured a demonstration of advanced agricultural technologies using its 5G network for high-speed connectivity. This demonstration integrated smart drones, AI, and an "edge Data Center" to illustrate applications for improving productivity, optimizing operations, reducing costs, and real-time farm management. The company also launched the "Pack Fellah," an offer designed to enhance rural connectivity. This pack includes an Honor X5b+ smartphone for 990 dirhams and a mobile plan at 89 dirhams per month, offering 15 hours of communication and 15 GB of internet, to facilitate access to digital tools for farmers. Additionally, MT Cash, a Maroc Telecom subsidiary, introduced a payment solution called "Payeur" for small businesses and cooperatives, particularly in the agricultural and agri-food sectors. This solution enables digital salary distribution, aiming to simplify operations, improve traceability, and reduce cash-related constraints. Beneficiaries can withdraw funds
In 2025, Morocco's legal cannabis sector experienced substantial growth, with the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities ANRAC issuing 4,147 new authorizations, bringing the total operational authorizations to 5,765. These include 5,492 authorizations for cultivation, benefiting 5,318 farmers, and 273 for processing, marketing, export, seed import, and transport, granted to 183 operators. Production authorizations for farmers are contingent on pre-existing purchase contracts with authorized operators, detailing pricing and payment terms. The harvested area for legal cannabis reached 3,141 hectares in 2025, involving 4,776 farmers, with 2,622 hectares dedicated to the local "Beldia" variety and 519 hectares to imported varieties. Industrially, five operators completed and equipped processing plants with a total capacity of 560 tons, while 11 more are under construction. Marketing efforts in 2025 led to the national cannabis product being available in over 600 authorized points of sale. For medical cannabis products, 110 new items were registered with the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products AMMPS, including 50 food supplements, 59 cosmetic products, and one medicine, increasing the total market availability to 141 products. Moroccan cannabis products expanded their international presence to over seven countries, including France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal, Australia, and South Africa, through ANRAC-organized prospecti