What is the MEDAE network?

In the mountainous regions of North Africa, agroforestry is an ancient practice that enables land to be cultivated sustainably, while preserving natural resources. Women, as key players in these systems, possess ancestral know-how in this field. Yet their contribution is often downplayed, and they face challenges such as land insecurity and economic dependence. In this intervention, we examined how agroecology can be a catalyst for their recognition, socio-economic integration and collective resilience.

Speakers:

• Zoubir Sahli – Specialist in rural development and economics (Algeria)
• Karima Boudedja and Amine Oulmane – Researchers in rural development – Centre de Recherche en Economie Appliquée pour le Développement (Algeria)
• Zoubir Chatou – Professor Socio-anthropologist – Ecole Nationale d’Agronomie de Meknes (Morocco)

In a context of rapid population growth and urbanization, urban and peri-urban agriculture is at the heart of food, environmental, economic and social issues. It faces numerous constraints in terms of production (access to land, pollution, competition for water resources, etc.) and marketing. In this webinar, we examine, through the experience of researchers, development operators and associations, the constraints and levers for developing and marketing agroecological crops grown in the peri-urban areas of 3 African capitals.

Speakers:

• Charles-Edouard Dubail, former director – Association Française d’Agriculture Urbaine Professionelle (France)
• Danie Jordaan, Senior Lecturer – University of Pretoria (South Africa)
• Cheikh Sidya, Rural development referent – Groupement de Recherche et de réalisations pour le Développement Rural (Mauritania)
• Karim Rahal, Volunteer – Association Torba (Algeria)

Oases are unique agro-ecosystems, true models of sustainable development, built and maintained for generations through the rigorous management of natural resources. While many traditional oases are in decline, suffering from the effects of global warming, rural exodus and increasing urbanization – and leading to the disappearance of know-how and certain aspects of the oasis cultural heritage – we are witnessing the development of new palm groves on the outskirts of towns, driven by private initiatives or public support. These palm groves face numerous challenges (water management, labor, soil fertility, drought, etc.), and this webinar will explore how traditional knowledge can be remobilized, and combined with scientific knowledge and innovations, to improve the resilience of peri-oasis systems.

Speakers:

• Adel Moulaï, Lecturer – University of Laghouat (Algeria)
• Mohammed Brik, President – Association El Argoub (Algeria)
• Mohamed Tartoura, Manager – Institut National de Protection des Végétaux de Ghardaïa (Algeria)
• Mehdi Ben Mimoun, Professor – Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (Tunisia)

To meet the crucial objective of food security, cereal agrosystems in North Africa have undergone significant agricultural intensification in recent decades, with numerous negative environmental impacts: soil degradation and loss of fertility, overexploitation of water resources: soil degradation and loss of fertility, overexploitation of water resources… Faced with these consequences, accentuated by climate change, which is very present in this region, some farmers are now turning to agricultural practices that are more respectful of the environment and better adapted to environmental-climatic risks, particularly increased drought (supplementary irrigation, fallowing, semi-direct, less ploughing…). In this webinar, we used the example of three cereal-growing plains in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia to explore how climate change can be a catalyst for the agroecological transition of cereal growing.

Speakers:

• Youssef Trifa, Lecturer – Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (Tunisia)
• Mohammed Boulif, Professor – Ecole Nationale Agronomique de Meknes (Morocco)
• Nadia Boulelouah, Lecturer – Université Batna 1 (Algeria)
• Hatem Cheikh Mhamed, Researcher – Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique de Tunisie (Tunisia)

Because of its multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting nature, the agroecological transition requires the collaboration of multiple players in the agricultural and food system (farmers, processors, consumers…) supported by research institutes, development organizations, technical and financial partners, and public authorities. In this webinar, we give the floor to three players involved in the agro-ecological transition in Egypt’s Luxor Valley: a farmer, a researcher and a development operator. Faced with the challenges of declining soil fertility, overexploitation of water, pollution linked to the massive use of phytosanitary products, poverty and loss of manpower, these players shared their experiences of agroecological transition and multi-actor collaboration: what are the difficulties encountered, the conditions for success and the benefits of this cooperation?

Speakers:

• Hatem Belhouchette, Scientific Administrator – Institut Agronomique Méditerranée de Montpellier (CIHEAM Montpellier) (France)
• Othman Elshaikh, President – Egyptian Association for Sustainable Development (Egypt)
• Gaber Mohmed, Farmer and head of a water users’ association (Egypt)