This regional AgriTech innovation and entrepreneurship hub, supported by the French Development Agency, aims to establish an ecosystem for the emergence of the underexploited potential of the Fez-Meknes region in its traditional activities (particularly agri-food) and the development of territorial growth drivers that create wealth and jobs, particularly through the intersection of research, innovation and entrepreneurial development in the aforementioned sectors, taken individually or in synergy. Today, the Region, the Wilaya of Fez-Meknes and the Regional Investment Center are associated with it. The analysis of the agricultural sector in the Fez-Meknes region reveals a multitude of constraints that hinder its development, despite the fact that it positions itself as one of the leading agri-food regions in the Kingdom.
These obstacles include the fragmentation of agricultural land, which affects its profitability, and irregular rainfall and the decline in groundwater, which have a negative impact on the cultivated area and annual production. Added to this are soil erosion, desertification, and the depletion of minerals in the soil, which lead to a reduction in arable land and a deterioration of pastures. To address these challenges, it is now common to refer to a “green revolution 2.0.”
This is how the Tech4Farmers incubation program was born. Implemented as part of the Cluster’s activities, it annually supports 20 project leaders through more than 200 hours dedicated to building the capacities of AgriTech entrepreneurs in technology, management, and agronomy. Connected with regional stakeholders, these entrepreneurs are encouraged to demonstrate their concept to local farmers to finalize the design of sustainable solutions adapted to the realities of the sector’s challenges in Morocco.
Objectives: Support the upgrading of the agribusiness sector by supporting entrepreneurs, promoting research and development, and adapting the local agricultural sector to international standards.
For more information, visit: https://ueuromed.org/structure-innovation/agritech
