French Minister Delegate for Europe and Foreign Affairs Benjamin Haddad on Tuesday urged stronger agricultural cooperation between Morocco and France, calling for enhanced exchange of expertise and know-how to address shared challenges such as food security and climate change.
Speaking at the opening of an international conference held as part of the 17th International Agricultural Show in Morocco (SIAM), Haddad emphasized the need to support technical partnerships that foster sustainable, locally adapted solutions through innovation. France is this year’s guest of honor at the event.
He said the gathering should lay the groundwork for a renewed French-Moroccan partnership, positioning both countries as key players in Mediterranean cooperation. The minister also welcomed the pace of bilateral exchanges, particularly in agricultural governance.
For his part, Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, also attending the event, called for balanced collaboration between Europe and Africa, citing the need to combine European research capacity with Africa’s human and natural resources.
He also praised Morocco-Italy cooperation on water resource management and advocated for greater sharing of agricultural best practices.
The conference, held under the theme “Water Management for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture,” was inaugurated by Moroccan Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari, with additional addresses by Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka and World Water Council President Loïc Fauchon.
Under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, SIAM 2025 runs from April 21 to 27 in Meknes, hosting 1,500 exhibitors from 70 countries under the theme “Agriculture and the Rural World: Water at the Heart of Sustainable Development.”
(MAP: 23 April 2025)
