🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Morocco's oilseed sector anticipates over 50,000 hectares cultivated this year, signaling recovery
via Le Matin5 min read
Morocco's oilseed sector is poised for a strong agricultural season this year, with cultivated areas expected to exceed 50,000 hectares, particularly for sunflower. This marks a significant recovery after seven years of severe drought. Mohammed El Baraka, president of the Interprofessional Federation of Oilseeds in Morocco FOLEA, expressed optimism at the International Agricultural Show of Meknes SIAM, attributing the positive outlook to exceptional rainfall. This record level of cultivation has not been seen since before the sector's liberalization. The return of rain alleviates uncertainties for a sector committed to ambitious 2030 goals outlined in its 2023 contract-program with the state. While the contractual framework is progressing, past droughts have impacted oilseed crops, causing delays in expanding dedicated agricultural areas. El Baraka noted that the sector is unlikely to return to its past highs of 200,000 hectares and 260,000 tons of production due to market liberalization. However, the new contract-program aims to meet 15% to 16% of national oilseed needs, a substantial increase from the current 1%. To revitalize the sector, FOLEA is establishing a technical center in Meknes, focusing on the upstream segment. This platform will aim to convince farmers to cultivate oilseeds by demonstrating the profitability of such investments. Agropol, a French association for international cooperation in oilseed and protein crop development, is providing technical assistance
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
At the International Agricultural Show in Morocco SIAM 2026, the Al Moutmir pavilion is attracting professionals, farmers, and visitors interested in solutions for climate, economic, and food challenges. Eight years after its launch, the initiative continues its deployment with an approach based on science, innovation, and local proximity. Al Moutmir connects agronomic research with rural realities, offering support across the entire value chain, including soil diagnostics, customized fertilization, water management, animal production, conservation agriculture, digitalization, and skill development. This strategy aims to improve farm performance and resilience. A new "Animal Production" program for small and medium-sized livestock farmers focuses on feed, forage, reproduction, animal health, and technical-economic management. This program uses SmartFeed, a digital rationing solution, and has supported over 1,500 farmers, deployed more than 120 forage platforms, and conducted over 100 training sessions. In response to water scarcity, Al Moutmir highlights its sustainable water management program, which combines field schools, practical demonstrations, and awareness of unconventional water use. The AquaSense solution enables intelligent irrigation control based on soil moisture monitoring, leading to water productivity gains of up to 25% in arboriculture and 7% to 15% in market gardening. The initiative also includes ElleMoutmir, a program empowering rural women through trainin
Morocco's beekeeping sector faces significant pressure in 2024 and 2025 due to drought, weakened bee colonies, and insufficient production. The crisis, which began in 2022 and continued into 2023, highlights the vulnerability of an activity crucial for agricultural and ecological balance. Honey production plummeted by nearly 70% in 2022 compared to 2021, reaching a historic low that persisted in 2023. This decline is attributed to prolonged water stress affecting melliferous resources and flowering cycles, leading to bee malnutrition, colony weakening, and increased mortality. An ONSSA survey in 2022-2023 reported approximately 36% of deserted hives, with significant losses continuing in several regions. In response, professionals are implementing adaptation strategies, including increased apicultural transhumance to compensate for scarce resources and supplementary feeding to sustain colonies during shortages. Initiatives are also underway to enhance bee resilience through selecting more resistant strains, improving health management, and diversifying melliferous resources. Although not a dedicated sector in the Génération Green strategy, beekeeping aligns with its sustainable development goals, natural resource preservation, and support for small farmers. With nearly 36,000 beekeepers relying on this activity, the issue extends beyond honey production, impacting food security and ecosystem preservation through its vital role in pollinating natural and cultivated plants. The
Must ReadThe African Centre for Strategic Studies and Digitalization has issued a warning about a significant transformation in Morocco's job market due to artificial intelligence. A study by the center indicates that by 2030, approximately 4.6 million jobs could be affected, with 1.5 million directly at risk, leading to an estimated net loss of 1.32 million positions. The pressure is projected to intensify by 2035, with 8 million jobs impacted and a potential deficit of up to 2.45 million, despite some limited job creation. Sectors identified as most vulnerable in Morocco include offshoring, banking, automotive, and textiles.
A study by researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, a biomedical research institute in California, recently highlighted in the journal Nature, provides insight into the nose's role in immune defense. The work, which included contributions from researcher Shane Crotty's teams, analyzed cells in the upper respiratory tract. Scientists found that the nose contains immune cells capable of retaining memory of previously encountered viruses. These cells, located directly in nasal tissues, remain on alert at the entry point for respiratory infections. When a similar virus reappears, they trigger a rapid response, producing antibodies or activating other defense mechanisms to limit infection spread. This finding represents an evolution in understanding immunity. Previously, focus was primarily on cells circulating in the blood. This research highlights the importance of "resident" cells in tissues, which act as a faster, more targeted first line of defense. Researchers also note that this immune memory can persist long-term, sometimes for several years. Vaccines contribute by training these cells to recognize pathogens. However, the effectiveness of this memory also depends on viruses' ability to evolve, as some mutations can partially bypass this recognition. Beyond the fundamental discovery, these results open concrete prospects, according to the researchers. They could guide the development of nasally administered vaccines, capable of strengthening this local immunity