New facilities supporting education, research, and innovation were inaugurated on Saturday, December 10, at the Agadir Horticultural Complex, under the effective presidency of Mohammed Sadiki, the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forestry.
These projects include the Moroccan-Dutch Horticultural Center of Excellence, the incubator, and the restructuring project of the experimental station.
The Agadir Horticultural Center of Excellence:
It is a world-class high-tech facility dedicated to scientific research and technological innovation. The center aims to promote research and innovation by:
-Providing support mechanisms for farmers to overcome agricultural challenges.
-Equipping producers with the latest advancements in precision agriculture techniques to enhance their yields and crop quality.
-Offering comprehensive end-to-end agricultural projects, high-tech greenhouse services, and turnkey solutions, all supported by the CHA's team of scientists and researchers.
-Designing optimal growing conditions to minimize crop losses.
-Establishing a demonstration platform for more cost-effective horticultural techniques, resulting in higher yields while saving significant amounts of water, fertilizers, and energy.
To develop these horticultural research and innovation initiatives, it is essential to collaborate with leading global partners in agro-technology, as well as professionals in the Moroccan horticultural sector to leverage research outcomes. The Horticultural Center of Excellence was designed and implemented by pioneering Dutch companies specializing in high-tech greenhouse construction, in close collaboration with established Moroccan firms in the field.
Incubator:
Named the Agadir Innovation Hub, this incubator is an entity that supports and fosters the creation of businesses in the agro-technology, water, and sustainability sectors. Its primary mission is to assist innovative and technological projects. The Agadir Innovation Hub caters to both early-stage ventures and companies seeking growth and development, emphasizing the importance of diversity in innovation, the creation of unique and sustainable solutions, and the generation of high-quality business opportunities.
This incubator will be launched in partnership with DANA (Desert Alliance New Era Accelerator), an investment platform and venture builder based in Abu Dhabi. DANA supports women-led start-ups in desert technologies, particularly in agritech, water solutions, food security, waste management, and renewable energies. The collaboration offers regional cooperation, innovation mentoring, an impact community, and funding.
The CHA Experimental Farm:
Covering a total area of 25 hectares, the farm represents a potential regional platform for knowledge and technology transfer. However, its restructuring is necessary for better utilization of its resources in support of scientific research, training the new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs, and assisting farmers in the technological transition of the sector.
This integrated center will focus on the dominant crops of the region and high-value crops. Its design fulfills the following objectives:
-Educational structure: Enhancing the applied training level of CHA students by providing practical learning facilities and state-of-the-art technological solutions.
-Applied research platform: Applying research findings to two production systems (Low-Tech and Mid-Tech) to assess their impacts.
-Model farm: Providing farmers with a platform connected to the training programs offered by the Center of Excellence to demonstrate good production practices in Mid-Tech.
-Profitable agricultural operation: Valorizing the harvested agricultural products to contribute to the self-financing of the support structures at CHA and the overall project's functioning.
