SKiM - 2022 Morocco Learning Route Agenda

Abstract

The first set of institutions are producing knowledge through either research activities, expertise or capitalizing on end-users and stakeholders returns. ONCA, is one of the last chain links, holds the responsibility of sharing knowledge on the field. The designed program of the MLR considers several SDGs as presented in the following figure1. In addition, the case studies are located in different regions in Morocco which differs from their climate and soil conditions, economic development and agricultural specialties. The MLR itinerary is planned from Chefchaouen - located in the Northern region of Morocco receiving about 880 mm of rain annually- to Marrakech in the South, suffering from drought with 240 mm/year. The objective of the visits aims at sharing the adaptation process of local stakeholders to different constraints regarding their agricultural and economic activities. The genebank visit in Settat witnesses the government preoccupation regarding the management of biodiversity mainly through the conservation of local resources. The university UM6P presents a new modern university model that is fully integrated into social and economic context. The university has developed within few years a high-quality level of training and research as well as entrepreneurial and innovation activities. An incubated start-up focusing on the quinoa valorization will be visited as well. Finally, the agro-industrial sector is introduced through two different case studies. Apia shows how a local company started a few years ago from scratch, led by an engineer, and has now become an international company for local product valorization, employing thousands of people in different locations in Morocco and abroad. The second case concerns the cluster innovation mechanisms supporting women's cooperative, helping their empowerment and inclusion in society. The table 1 highlight the main topics to be discussed during each study visit, and table 2 shows a Cross-table of cases and thematic areas.