The AAA initiative reaffirms Morocco's pan-African commitment
- Morocco faithful to its pan-African commitment
- The AAA initiative at the service of African agriculture
- Agroforestry at the heart of the AAA
- AI: key to sustainability in future agriculture
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Africa is warming faster than the global average. With an increase of more than 0.3% per decade, this warming is exacerbating droughts, altering rainfall patterns and accelerating soil erosion, threatening agricultural yields and food security for millions of families.
In this context, the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) initiative, launched by King Mohammed VI, offers an ambitious pan-African response to strengthen agricultural resilience and is establishing itself as a leading African platform for the adaptation of African agriculture to climate change.
Morocco faithful to its pan-African commitment
Morocco's Minister of Agriculture and President of the AAA Initiative Foundation, Ahmed El Bouari, stated during the International Agricultural Show of Morocco (SIAM) that ‘the Kingdom of Morocco remains faithful to its pan-African commitment and, in accordance with the guidelines of King Mohammed VI, the Kingdom will continue to support all initiatives aimed at building a resilient, inclusive and prosperous African agriculture,’ mentioning that ’the time has come for action, solidarity and innovation in Africa.’
According to El Bouari, Morocco is committed to its continent through three priorities:
- Integrating agroforestry into national adaptation policies.
- Mobilising climate finance that responds to foreseeable challenges and is accessible and adaptable to African realities.
- Promoting the equal distribution of innovative financing, in particular through carbon markets and green finance.
‘Our vision must fully integrate young people and women, who are essential pillars of change for the future, as well as invest in their training and give them access to technology and financing in order to transform agriculture in a sustainable and promising way for the future,’ emphasised the Moroccan minister, highlighting that the primary objective of the AAA is to build a stronger, fairer and more future-oriented African agriculture.
El Bouari signed a letter of intent with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to create a Regional Academy focused on the food system in Morocco. This is the Regional Leadership Academy, whose mission is to train young leaders for the transformation of the agricultural sector.
The AAA initiative at the service of African agriculture
El Bouari clarified that ‘this initiative, which brings together governments, financial institutions, researchers and development actors around a real vision, must become a force for humanisation, because the figures are clear’. ‘Without strong action, Africa could lose up to 27% of its agricultural production by 2050,’ he added.
Since the first conference, the foundations have been laid with strong statements, concrete action plans and innovative tools. The AAA Initiative Foundation has launched several projects in collaboration with various international organisations, including the International Platform for Adaptation Metrics (IPAM), which today plays a key strategic role.
The triple A is based on precise methodologies and indicators, adapted to African realities, to better measure and assess progress in adapting African agriculture to massive changes.
In this regard, the agricultural investment project incubator, supported by the African Adaptation Initiative, aims to mobilise an ambitious sum of nearly $780 million to relaunch innovative sustainable agriculture projects across the continent.
In parallel, the AAA initiative has consolidated its scientific and diplomatic presence at the international level by increasing its publications, South-South exchanges, technical workshops and participation in major global conferences. ‘As a result, we are recognised as a reference platform for the resilient transformation of African agriculture,’ concluded Ahmed El Bouari.
Agroforestry at the heart of the AAA
FAO representative Abdelhakim Al-Waer emphasised: ‘This year, agroforestry will be at the centre of discussions, providing a powerful lever for concrete responses to climate and food challenges. Agroforestry is much more than a technique: it is a vision for the future of our agriculture and a proven African response, based on Africa's own knowledge and territories.’
It also represents a central pillar of African agricultural and climate policies that seek to restore soil, protect water, generate income and create jobs. The initiative demonstrates that the link between nature and agriculture can become a powerful lever for territorial transformation and rural development.
According to Al-Waer, between now and 2040, we could see the emergence of a new African agricultural model based on three pillars:
- Ecological intelligence with high-yield agroforestry systems.
- Economic equity through urban and regional value chains.
- Food sovereignty through climate-resilient and market-connected agricultural systems.
AI: key to sustainability in future agriculture
The crossroads of technology and sustainability, where Artificial Intelligence is more than automation and is revolutionising the agricultural sector, is the key to a future in which farms are more efficient, resilient, sustainable and environmentally friendly.
AI technologies enable African farmers to optimise crop yields through precision agriculture, allowing them to use water, fertilisers and pesticides more efficiently. Eighty per cent of food is produced by smallholder farmers who have fewer resources and need the support of the ecosystem to continue producing food for the African community.
AI solutions can enable Africa to achieve food security, combat climate change and empower farmers to make AI-based decisions, such as a water quality management system that can detect contamination in real time, protecting public health and ecosystems.
Artificial Intelligence is capable of analysing sensitive data to identify contaminants and predict future water quality trends, as well as patterns for delivering adequate water, minimising losses and maximising yield and productivity.
The systems use AI to analyse large amounts of data, provide early warnings and predict floods or droughts with greater certainty, giving the community time for better planning and management of water resources.
The key benefit is a significant reduction in water losses. Leak detection and irrigation optimisation are good examples of how this technology can help conserve this vital resource.
AI also makes it possible to reduce the use of chemicals, lower operating costs and make better use of infrastructure. In fact, AI supports global sustainability goals by promoting good water resource management.