Sustainability Days - Cultivating Resilience Through Sustainable Soil and Water Management in Morocco
In celebration of World Soil Day, ICARDA, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), and other partners, recently organized 'Sustainability Days' to promote discussion on soil and water management and showcase science-driven solutions to Morocco’s agricultural challenges.
The event, themed “Towards Sustainable Soil and Water Management for Better Resilience of Agricultural Systems in Morocco”, took place from 3 to 5 December in Rabat, attracting more than 100 participants, among them, agricultural experts, researchers, policymakers, and students. Over the three days, the participants were treated to a rich and varied program, including a plenary session, breakout discussions, a hands-on workshop, and a field visit to the INRA-ICARDA Research Station in Marchouch .
On December 3rd, the event kicked off with opening remarks, followed by a plenary session, featuring key presentations and discussions on sustainable agricultural solutions, with particular emphasis on developing a National Soil Charter and promoting responsible agronomic practices. ICARDA scientists took an active part in these sessions, with Dr. Rachid Moussadek, senior scientist at ICARDA-INRA, addressing the critical need for transformative agricultural practices in response to Morocco's water crisis.
“After five years of water stress and drought in Morocco, sustainable soil and water management are the only viable paths forward for agriculture. Today's event is about solving the challenge of doing more with less. Practices like direct seeding, crop rotation, and drip irrigation are the solutions we aim to promote,” explained Dr. Moussadek.
He also commended the development of the Soil Charter, a legislative initiative that brings together a set of practices and guidelines for various stakeholders in Morocco. This charter focuses mainly on soil conservation, fertility, health, and biodiversity, and presents a pivotal step toward safeguarding soil and water resources.
Soil and Water: Nature’s Record Keepers
Dr. Vinay Nangia, ICARDA’s Soil, Water, and Agronomy team leader, brought to the table a unique perspective. He portrayed soil and water as “nature’s remarkable record keepers”. This statement implies that water and soil bear witness to past events, whether caused by natural forces or human hands. They allow us, through research, to assess our current track record and can even suggest good potential pathways towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
This perspective set the tone for subsequent activities, where participants didn’t just listen, but actively exchanged ideas, shared insights and built connections around sustainable soil and water management.
"The goal is to sharpen our focus, assess our progress, identify areas needing attention, and uncover opportunities for collaboration, all to better tackle the challenge in front of us. "
Pioneering Solutions for Farmers
One standout presentation by Dr. Nangia highlighted the transformative potential of Ultra-Low-Energy Drip Irrigation for smallholder farmers. Developed in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this innovative system uses pressure-compensating emitters to reduce hydraulic energy by 43% in the first year and 69% within three years.
“The cost of these drippers is at par with conventional systems, and ongoing research aims to make them even more affordable through optimization and integrating MIT drippers with POWEIr controllers,” Dr. Nangia explained. “By 2025, we hope to scale this technology to farmers, enabling them to boost productivity all while saving water, energy and money.”
On December 4th, the focus shifted to practical learning, a workshop was held for IAV Hassan II students, where ICARDA’s Dr. Mina Devkota demonstrated the link between soil health and human nutrition. Through her research, Dr. Devkota showed how applying zinc and iron to soil can increase grain yield by 26%, zinc content by 27%, iron content by 41%, and protein by 25% in wheat. This approach highlights the potential of agronomic practices combined with biofortification to tackle global food security and malnutrition challenges.
A World Soil Day Field Trip to INRA-ICARDA Experimental Marchouch station
On December 5th, in celebration of World Soil Day, over 30 experts and students participated in a field visit to the INRA-ICARDA Research Station in Marchouch to gain firsthand insight into some innovative agricultural practices, such us no-till platforms, direct seeding techniques, and advanced tools like soil moisture sensors, particularly the cosmic ray sensor, which provides precise and non-invasive soil moisture estimation over large areas.
Participants also went on a visit to the local farm in Had Brachoua, located 22 km from the research station. A special feature of this farm is how it adopts organic and ecological farming methods. During the visit, participants explored sustainable techniques designed to preserve soil quality while tackling the region's water stress challenges. Said Aakef, farm owner and president of the My Farm Without Chemicals Cooperative, explained how the six-hectare farm has been a model of innovation since 2015, using sustainable farming practices to maintain soil health and diversify production.
The Sustainability Days provided a rich platform to exchange knowledge and explore science-driven solutions for sustainable soil and water management in Morocco. With sustainability as the watchword, the discussions demonstrated that while the obstacles are significant, the potential solutions are equally promising. The path ahead might be scattered with challenges, but this doesn’t deter ICARDA's progress, it only makes the organization push the boundaries of research even further, reinforcing its commitment to build a more sustainable and resilient system for Morocco and its communities.
Media coverage:
The Sustainability Days garnered extensive media coverage. Prominent outlets such as 2M featured the event on its news program, while Morocco World News shared a video with Dr. Nangia, where he explained the event’s goals and ICARDA’s long-lasting partnership with FAO. Alalam24 also covered the third day at the Marchouch station, where World Soil Day was celebrated, showcasing ICARDA and its partners' research and innovations.
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