Rabat, Morocco – 14 May 2025 – The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) has taken major strides to deepen technical cooperation with Morocco through a series of high-level meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture and leading agricultural research institutions. The engagements lay the foundation for impactful partnerships aimed at strengthening food systems across OIC Member States.
Led by IOFS Director General H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, the visit focused on mobilizing Moroccan expertise in areas such as water-efficient agriculture, climate-resilient crops, and scientific innovation to address shared food security challenges—particularly in Africa.
Strategic Dialogue with the Ministry of Agriculture
At the Ministry of Agriculture, Ambassador Aryn met with Secretary General Mr. Redhouane Arrach to explore practical avenues of cooperation. Discussions centered on Morocco’s leadership in sustainable agriculture and opportunities to launch triangular partnerships under the African Food Security Initiative (AFSI), with Morocco acting as a key technical contributor for African OIC countries.
Both sides underscored the importance of knowledge transfer, highlighting Morocco’s success through initiatives like the “Generation Green” strategy as a model for adaptation in similar agro-ecological zones.
Expanding Research Collaboration with ICARDA
In a separate meeting with Dr. Aly Abousabaa, Director General of ICARDA, the two sides reviewed joint progress on crop development, genetic resource preservation, and technical training. They agreed to scale up collaboration through expanded capacity-building programs and deployment of climate-resilient crop varieties in vulnerable OIC countries.
New Partnership with Morocco’s INRA
Concluding the day, Ambassador Aryn held an extended meeting with the leadership and researchers of Morocco’s National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), led by Professor Lamiae Ghaouti. The discussions focused on formalizing a scientific partnership that will facilitate joint research, technical exchanges, and innovation in plant genetics, wheat breeding, and water-use efficiency.
Participants included department directors and senior experts from INRA, who presented current research priorities and discussed the relevance of Moroccan scientific innovation for broader OIC needs. The engagement also explored the potential for collaborative field research, co-organized training programs, and joint publications.
Professor Ghaouti emphasized INRA’s readiness to support IOFS programs, noting strong alignment between the institute’s research agenda and IOFS’s regional objectives. Both sides agreed to move forward with drafting a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding to guide future cooperation.
These new partnerships mark a significant step forward in IOFS’s mission to build resilient food systems. By tapping into Morocco’s rich agricultural knowledge base, IOFS is equipping Member States with the tools to respond to today’s urgent food security challenges and tomorrow’s climate realities.
