Rabat – The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) signed, on Tuesday in Rabat, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural research.
The MoU was signed by INRA Director Lamiae Ghaouti and ACIAR Research Program Manager Rita Ritchie, during a visit by an official ACIAR delegation. It falls within the framework of the Africa–Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture and is in line with Morocco’s national “Green Generation 2020-2030” strategy.
Under this agreement, the two institutions seek to establish structured cooperation focusing on the development of joint agricultural research projects, capacity building, training and exchange of expertise, and innovation in climate-smart agriculture.
It aims to promote networking among researchers, the dissemination of scientific results, and collaborative approaches to sustainable and resilient agriculture.
In the same context, a letter of understanding was signed between Ghaouti and Australian Ambassador to Morocco, Damian Donovan, marking a significant step toward strengthening research and innovation in support of sustainable food and agricultural systems.
In a statement to MAP following the meeting, Donovan said that this cooperation would help enhance resilience to climate challenges and open up new opportunities for agriculture in Morocco and across Africa.
For her part, Ghaouti described the signing as a “particularly important moment” in Moroccan-Australian cooperation, noting that it fully aligns with the Australian government’s policy as well as the national “Generation Green” strategy, which places innovation and sustainability at the core of the Kingdom’s agricultural development.
This visit is part of ongoing efforts to reinforce bilateral scientific and technical relations between Morocco and Australia in the fields of agriculture, innovation, and climate resilience.
With a budget of AUD 76.4 million over six years, AAPCRA program aims to strengthen research and innovation in sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices in North and West Africa, notably in Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, and Nigeria.
It also provides an opportunity for fruitful and promising exchanges between Moroccan and Australian experts on prospects for collaboration in priority research areas and the strategic opportunities offered by this bilateral partnership.
