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Webinar Medae: How can agroecology be a lever for women’s emancipation in North Africa ?

The MEDAE network is pleased to invite you to participate in the webinar ” How can agroecology be a lever for women’s emancipation in North Africa ? “ which will take place on Tuesday April 22, 2025 (14:00 -16:00 CET).

Summary :

This webinar will look at the place of women in food systems in North Africa, and how agroecology is helping to empower them. Presentations by researchers and farmers from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco will provide a better understanding of how agroecology can empower rural women, enabling them to access new economic opportunities and participate in collective territorial dynamics. Several question and answer sessions will be held to enable participants to react to the presentations and share their own experience and vision of more inclusive rural development.

The webinar will be held in French, with English translation provided.

Program (CET) :

14h00-14h10 – Welcome, contextualization of the webinar, presentation of the webinar and speakers
Morgane Gaudin, MEDAE network Coordinator – CARI Association

14h10-14h20 – Introduction of the webinar : Role and place of women in agroecology in North Africa
Zoubir Chattou, Researcher at the Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès (ENAM)

14h20-14h35 – TUNISIA : Neo-rural women settling in agroecology in oasis and peri-urban systems
Imene Chelbi, Farmer and founder of the El Rochen farm

14h35-14h55 – First question and answer session

14h55-15h10 – ALGERIA : Agroecology and emancipation of rural women in mountain agroecosystems
Karima Boudedja, Senior researcher at the Centre de Recherche en Economie Appliquée pour le Développement (CREAD)

15h10-15h25 – MOROCCO : Agroecology and emancipation of rural women in mountain agroecosystems
Ghizlane Echchgadda, Teacher-researcher at the Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès (ENAM)

15h25-15h45 – Second question and answer session

15h45-15h55 – Closing remarks by the great witness
Rachel Bezner Kerr, Teacher at the Cornell University

16h00 – End of the webinar

The registration is mandatory, so sign up now here.

The second cross-visit, when the oasis becomes a laboratory : A knowledge-sharing meeting at the Laghouat Living Lab (Algeria)

From February 19 to 23, 2025, the Laghouat Living Lab hosted a cross-visit during which local and international experts shared their knowledge and experience in the face of contemporary climatic and economic challenges. For five days, participants explored together how to combine ancestral techniques and innovative approaches to build resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

The second cross-visit of the NATAE project brought together around twenty experts from the Maghreb and Europe : farmers from the Laghouat and Tizi Ouzou LL (Algeria), actors from the Adrar Replication Laboratory (Mauritania) and Kébili RL (Tunisia), as well as researchers from CREAD, INAT (Tunisia) and WUR (Netherlands).

The El Argoub association organized a program structured around three major issues :

water management in the face of drought
processing and adding value to production
co-construction of knowledge

Field visits formed the backbone of these exchanges. In traditional gardens, participants analyzed the ancestral “water tower” system via the seguias. Local farmers shared their techniques for collectively managing this scarce resource, prompting enriching comparisons with practices in Tunisia and Mauritania. A visit to the Tadjmout underground inferoflux dam, which captures floodwater while preventing evaporation losses, sparked lively discussions between hydrogeologists, researchers and farmers on hydraulic infrastructures adapted to arid zones.

During the farms visits, each participant was able to question, compare and document integrated crop-livestock systems specific to the oasis context. Mauritanian farmers shared their practices for adapting to even more arid conditions, while Tunisians presented their innovations in energy-saving irrigation. These exchanges in the field helped to collectively identify the resilience factors of agricultural systems in the face of climatic changes.

Workshops were held to methodically dissect field observations. The first workshop, dedicated to water management, compared traditional techniques with modern technological approaches. Participants mapped all the solutions observed, assessing their transferability from one territory to another.

A second workshop focused on value chains, dissecting the transformation processes observed in several production units. Farmers presented their techniques for valorizing date by-products, cheese-making and bee-keeping, triggering detailed technical exchanges on processes, equipment, costs and marketing strategies. Short circuits and e-commerce were the subject of comparative analyses between the different regions represented. The workshop on the co-construction of knowledge deeply impressed the participants. The El Argoub association presented its organizational model, sparking a collective reflection on cooperative structures as levers for agricultural innovation.

These exchanges and debates helped to formalize learning, identify transferable practices and contribute to new expertise and knowledge. These moments of collective intelligence recommended to maintain the exchange network in order to create a cross-border community of agricultural innovation adapted to the climatic challenges of arid zones.

For the final day, the participants discovered the Saharan Atlas and Djebel Amour, revealing the thousand-year-old history of this region where human ingenuity has always been able to adapt to environmental constraints. The Ksar of Taouiala, with its terraced gardens and irrigation system, as well as the rock carving stations, including the famous “elephant protecting her baby elephant” at El Ghicha, bear witness to the temporal depth of the relationship between man and his environment in this region.

This week of professional immersion demonstrated that oasis agriculture, far from being a relic of the past, is a model for the future, where traditional knowledge and technical innovation combine to shape resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

RIAM is hosting a webinar on the Systéme Participatif de Garantie (SPG)

History, Objectives, Tools, How It Works, Farmers’ Testimonies, Consumers’ Testimonies.

RIAM (the Network of Agroecological Initiatives in Morocco) is hosting a webinar on the Systéme Participatif de Garantie (SPG) under the NATAE project, funded by the European Union and led by CIHEAM IAMM. This initiative aims to connect agroecology and ecological transition stakeholders in Morocco.

Given Morocco and North Africa’s agricultural challenges due to climate change and food import dependency, agroecology presents a viable solution for sustainability and resilience.

Since 2018, RIAM has been developing the “Participatory Guarantee System” Label with support from institutional partners and civil society. Currently, about 60 farms in Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Marrakech, and Casablanca are certified under this system, which promotes local quality assurance through active stakeholder participation, trust, networking, and knowledge exchange.

This webinar will guide farmers through the SPG Agroecology Morocco implementation process, fostering a participatory approach to drive an inclusive transition towards sustainable agricultural practices while ensuring economic viability.

PROGRAME

Presentation of the history of the SPG
Presentation of the objectives and tools
of the SPG
Testimonies from farmers and
consumers

13 FEBRUARY 2025

10:00 - 12:30 (CET)

Webinar Medae: What are the prospects for supporting the deployment of agroecology in public policies in North Africa?

MEDAE will implement a webinar that will present the results of a cross-sectional analysis of public policies in North Africa, as well as an examination of the place of agroecology in international conventions, and will look at the extent to which these policies provide a favourable or unfavourable framework for the agroecological transition. There will be time for discussion on the prospects for supporting agroecology and ways of encouraging the agroecological transition in North Africa.

Program (CET)

• 14:00 – Welcome
• 14:05 – Presentation of the MEDAE network (MEDiterranean multiactor network on AgroEcology).
Marion Comptour, MEDAE Network Coordinator – CARI Association

• 14:20 – Discussion
• 14:30 – Agroecology in the national public policies of North African countries.
Rita Jalkh, post-doctoral fellow and project manager NATAE– CIHEAM IAMM

• 15:00 – The place of agroecology in farmer practices: the case of Algeria.
Adel Moulai, researcher and project coordinator – El-Argoub Association

• 15:20 – International conventions as possible levers for a better integration of agroecology into national public policies.
Manon Albagnac, in charge of the follow-up to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification – Association CARI

• 15:35 – Discussion
• 16:00 – End of webinar

The registration is mandatory, so sign up now here

More information to come on https://www.medae-agroecology.eu

Developing promising agroecological practice combinations in the semi-arid and mountainous Living Lab of Skoura M’Daz, Boulemane, Morocco (Skoura-MA)

landscape of a village, with mountains in the background

Rich insights into the potentials and challenges of an agroecological transition in the Living Lab Skoura-MA have been gained during an extensive territorial diagnosis and the official Living Lab launch activities in 2023. Learning from that, researchers proposed an initial set of agroecological practices (AEP) to be explored in the Living Lab and to be discussed with farmers in more detail: the 1) association of olive trees and medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP), 2) traditional gravity irrigation and improvement options, 3) drip irrigation, 4) use of manure, and 5) use of shredded tree pruning residues.

Three farmer focus group discussions took place in February 2024 bringing together eight women of the local women cooperative processing MAP, four and six farmers respectively. Farmers exchanged on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed AEPs and were subsequently asked to rate those AEP in an individual rating activity. The idea is, that suitable AEP combinations can increase positive and minimize negative effects of single practices in a synergistic way.

*`Figure 1: One focus group discussion was held with the local women cooperative processing MAP in their workshop`*

Concerns emphasized by farmers were among others the effect of practices on water use, crop development and yields, soil fertility and erosion, pest and disease development, as well as implementation constraints regarding equipment (e.g, wood shredders, processing equipment for MAP) and infrastructure (e.g., water storage basins) requirements.

*`Figure 2: A flip chart with two columns was used to summarize the discussion on advantages and disadvantages of agroecological practices`*

Farmers’ concerns were taken up by the representative board on the 20^th of February 2024 gathering 9 stakeholders including farmers and cooperative members, representatives of regional and provincial agricultural governance institutions, elected municipality officials, and researchers of the National School of Agriculture in Meknes. Representative board members explored promising activities at Living Lab level that could help to address farmers’ concerns, such as training and farmer organization.

Next steps in the Living Lab aim to set up initial on-farm experimentation plots to explore the effects of promising AEP combinations and to organize farmer field schools facilitating the knowledge exchange among farmers and researchers.

*`Figure 3: View on the town of Skoura M'Daz and surrounding mountainous environment`*

NATAE Consortium Meeting and General Assembly held in Tunis

From April 28 to May 4, the Consortium Meeting and General Assembly within the scope of the North Africa Transition to Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (NATAE) project took place in Tunis, Tunisia. The event brought together the 20 partners from the distinct scientific expertises to address pressing challenges in North Africa’s food systems.

The primary aim of NATAE is to engage the high-level of Research and Education institutions, international organizations, and specialized NGOs to showcase that agro-ecological approaches, tailored to the region’s diverse farming systems, can further provide effective solutions to food system challenges in North Africa.

The agenda included insights on the capitalisation process over agroecological practices, presentations for each Agrosystem from Living to Replicant Labs, some news shared about the launch of the MEDAE network to reporting of Communication and dissemination actions.

A visit to the Field of the Siliana Living Lab was further organized by Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie. A great experience in firsthand where NATAE partners were exposed to the innovative agricultural practices and sustainable solutions that are underway.

The NATAE partners were also able to enter in contact with the innovative agricultural practices and sustainable solutions underway for the successful Agroecology transition. The programme included some interactive workshops, presentations, and insightful discussions in topics related to Agroecology as a mode of production and sustainable food system to the Crop production specifications of the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).

On the last day, an immersive experience was provided to the partners through the visit to the Permaculture Farm L’Heridium in Tunis along with nteractive workshops that involved the simulation of a PGS survey at the Heridium farm.

NATAE Consortium Meeting and General Assembly in Tunis

We are excited to announce that the NATAE Consortium Meeting and General Assembly is scheduled to take place in Tunis, Tunisia from April 28th to May 3th, 2024. This significant event marks a crucial moment for our Consortium as we gather to deliberate on key initiatives aimed at fostering a successful Agroecology transition in North Africa.

During this Meeting, NATAE partners will convene to exchange insights, discuss ongoing projects, and chart the course for future collaborations. With a focus on advancing sustainable agricultural practices and promoting environmental stewardship, the Consortium Meeting and General Assembly will serve as a platform for robust discussions, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning.

Stay tuned for updates from the event as we work together towards a more sustainable and resilient future for North Africa! For more information about NATAE and our initiatives, follow our updates at our social media channels.

Webinar: Climate change: a catalyst for the agro-ecological transition of cereal cultivation in North Africa?

The forth of the 5 webinars to be implemented as part of the MEADE network, will take place on the 7th December 2023 (10:00 -12:00 CET) and the topic “Climate change: a catalyst for the agro-ecological transition of cereal cultivation in North Africa?” will be discussed. Access the agenda of the event in English or in French to have more information and to be able to register to participate.

Webinar: Between traditional and scientific knowledge, how can we improve the resilience of peri-oases systems?

The third of the 5 webinars to be implemented as part of the MEADE network, will take place on the 23rd November 2023 (10:00 -12:00 CET) and the topic “Between traditional and scientific knowledge, how can we improve the resilience of peri-oases systems?” will be discussed. Access the agenda of the event in English or in French to have more information and to be able to register to participate.

Laghouat Living Lab launch day

The Laghouat LL launch day took place on 26 October 2023 and was attended by 29 stakeholders from the agricultural community in the oasis and peri-oasis system.

The NATAE project team from the Laghouat Living Lab warmly welcomed all the invited participants. After a brief presentation of the NATAE project, the participants were divided into two groups who successively visited three farms dedicated to date palm cultivation, arboriculture, viticulture, fodder and cereal crops, as well as various livestock such as dairy cattle, sheep and goats. Visiting these farms enabled participants to appreciate the diversity of the landscape and to discuss the opportunities and challenges specific to each type of farming activity, particularly with regard to irrigation.

This was followed by a plenary session, during which questions and answers were exchanged, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each production system from different angles: agricultural and agro-ecological practices, socio-economic and environmental performance.

The meeting ended with a convivial, good-humoured lunch, and a rich exchange of ideas and contacts for possible future meetings.