Empowering future agricultural engineers through agroforestry

In an inspiring initiative aimed at strengthening agroecological practices among the next generation of agricultural professionals, the Moroccan Society of Agronomy and Horticulture (SMAHo) collaborated with the Agricultural Innovation and Technology Transfer Center (AITTC-UM6P) to organize an agroforestry awareness day. This event brought together agricultural engineering students from prestigious institutions across Morocco, including the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute (IAV Hassan II), the National School of Forestry Engineering (ENFI), the National School of Agriculture of Meknes (ENAM), and the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES–UM6P).
Amid pressing global challenges such as food security, resource degradation, and climate change, agroforestry emerges as a promising solution. By integrating trees and shrubs with crops and livestock, this approach offers multifaceted benefits for sustainable agricultural practices.

The initiative began with a theoretical phase, followed by a practical workshop on February 14. During this event, 83 students participated in the establishment of model agroforestry plots under the supervision of their professors and experts. The selected species, such as fruit trees (olive, argan) and fodder shrubs (Atriplex, cactus-opuntia), were chosen for their resilience and economic value.

The initiative, part of the TransforMed project, aims to promote agroforestry in Morocco, aligning with national strategies for sustainable agricultural development, such as Generation Green and the Morocco Forests Strategy 2020-2030.
The collaborative efforts of agricultural higher education institutions, regional agricultural authorities, and local stakeholders were crucial to the success of this initiative. The positive outcomes will serve as a model for other initiatives across the country, fostering a generation of environmentally conscious agricultural engineers.