The final activities of the first phase of the Project to Support Agroecological Initiatives in Oasis Areas in Morocco (PIAZO-M) have been carried out, marking the final stretch of the territorial assessment. At the same time, the Living Lab’s representative committee has begun its work by drafting governance documents.
The regional assessment is entering its final phase
Following the summer period and the completion of 61 surveys characterizing the agroecological transition of farms in the municipalities of Foum Zguid, Tlit, and Allougoum, one essential component of the assessment that began in February 2026 was still missing: workshops to analyze the conditions for the development of agroecology in the region. That has now been accomplished! These workshops were held in the project’s three municipalities between late September and early October. They brought together farmers and representatives of agricultural cooperatives to discuss the barriers and drivers for developing agroecology at the regional level. The team is now in the final stages of drafting the regional diagnostic report and will soon present the results to the stakeholders.
The Living Lab is laying the groundwork for its governance
The diagnostic process is moving forward, as is the establishment of the Living Lab. The second meeting, attended by members who had confirmed their participation, took place on Thursday, October 1. Through work in subgroups followed by a plenary session, the members of the representative committee proposed numerous ideas for drafting the “Code of Conduct” and the “Vision and Values Manifesto.” The purpose of these documents is to establish good governance and a solid foundation for our work, built on trust, active listening, and shared values. The next major milestone for committee members will be to approve the criteria selected to classify the region’s farms.
Next step: analyze the resilience of 30 farms
October will thus provide an opportunity to finalize the regional diagnostic report and present its findings in November, prior to the launch of the second phase of the Method for Analyzing the Resilience of Agricultural Systems (MARSA), which will involve conducting more in-depth surveys at 30 farms in the region.
Figure 1: Photograph of the Tlit workshop on September 28, 2026
Figure 2: Photograph of the Allougoum workshop on September 29, 2026
Figure 3: Photograph of the workshop in Foum Zguid on October 8, 2026
