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Morocco’s King Mohamed VI and France’s President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting at the Royal Palace in the capital Rabat on 28 October 2024 – PHOTO/ LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL / AFP.Enrique Fernandez.
During his last day of his official visit to Morocco, French President Emmanuel Macron attended a conference at the International University of Rabat, where, together with Ismael Al-Wafi, executive director of the CGR (Research Centre), he discussed solutions to the common denominator of most of Africa’s problems: food security.
In the talk entitled ‘Food security: prospects for Franco-Moroccan cooperation for a transition towards sustainable agriculture and food systems in Africa’ , experts, professors and experts addressed the continent’s needs with regard to two of its main threats: climate change and food security .
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According to Emmanuel Macron, ‘the role of this cooperation is to facilitate African market access to the rest of the world by strengthening the development of local products . The need to produce more and more food to meet global demand while maintaining agricultural sovereignty is an issue that personalities such as Professor Taraf and Daniel Nahon addressed at particular length during the conference.
‘Knowing the soil is exceedingly important. Keeping it in good health means ensuring food security at all costs,’ said Daniel Nahon. ‘Soil is today, and we must bear in mind, that it is the only natural resource that is not renewable,’ I concluded.
In this context, the Moroccan national phosphate company, OCP Group, has announced a new platform to support the financing of programs that activate and encourage the use of sustainable agriculture. Together with the International Financial Corporation (IFC), with whom it has been collaborating since 2023, the Moroccan group intends to provide financial support to the entire chain of the agricultural sector, from seed production to soil research.
Similarly, representatives of Intercéréales stressed the importance of long-term cooperation between Morocco and the rest of Africa in order to ensure the availability of sustainable production in Africa. Together with them, Crédit Agricole focused on its vision of small business financing to maintain the economic stability of African farmers.
Sébastien Abis, director of the Club Déméter, advocated the need to strengthen the strategy in favor of vegetable protein and the development of durable rows on the African continent. He also commented on the importance of joining the fight against the problems of water, climate change and the environment. As additional support, the Ardi and Tamwil foundations showed in the talk their intentions to promote sustainable agriculture.
Understanding the functioning of Africa’s soil and its characteristics is of paramount importance. That is why cooperation between the scientific and diplomatic worlds was among the main premises discussed. ‘Making young Africans realize that the most important decisions must be political and scientific in nature is fundamental to their future,’ Ismael Al-Wafi.
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Promoting the need to address desertification and the loss of arable land is a major concern. Studying the land better by increasing investment in mapping and water management is, according to Emmanuel Macron, paramount. ‘Research is a strategy that will help the continent in 10-15 years’ time.
The effects of climate change have a direct impact on agricultural production. According to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), with an increase of 2°C there will be more than 200 million more hungry people. If this figure doubles, there could be more than 2 billion people affected, ie 1 in 4 people.
Finally, Macron emphasized the Great Green Wall project inaugurated in 2007. ‘The Great Green Wall project is a concrete example of the holistic approach we have been discussing. It allows women and men from all regions to get out of the informal economy and create wealth and opportunities. It also helps to address the root causes of migration, instability and terrorism,’ he said. ‘The Great Green Wall is a nexus of projects and solutions that can help address these complex challenges,’ he added.
‘I want to emphasize the importance of collaboration with Morocco to achieve these goals in the years to come. Finally, the Mediterranean region is a critical area where we can work together to promote sustainable development and address the root causes of migration and instability,’ he concluded.
On the Mediterranean, Macron stressed the need to rethink the Mediterranean agricultural model to meet the challenge of food sovereignty, assuring that France wishes to be a long-term partner of this sovereignty , both for Europe and for the African continent.
‘I am very impressed by Morocco’s strategy in terms of adapting its model through water highways and urban desalination projects. A very comprehensive strategy from which France should draw inspiration,’ said the French head of government.