1St EU/North-African Conference on Organic Agriculture (EU-NACOA) “Bridging the Gap, Empowering Organic Africa”
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BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 1st EU/North-African Conference on Organic Agriculture (EU-NACOA) “Bridging the Gap, Empowering Organic Africa” Conference Sponsors Strategic partners 11-12th November 2019 Hotel Palm Plaza, Marrakech-Morocco 1st EU/North-African Conference on Organic Agriculture (EU-NACOA) 11-12th November 2019, Marrakech-Morocco Dr. Faouzi Bekkaoui Director of INRA Morocco Dear Audience, Organic farming and agroecology systems are considered very relevant solutions for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Organic and agroecological farming includes strategies for reducing hunger, climate change mitigation and adaptation, increased biodiversity and its functional role in environmental friendly production. FAO recently declared that organic farming and agroecology can enhance food security, rural development, sustainable livelihoods and environmental integrity by building capacities of stakeholders in production, processing, certification and marketing worldwide. However, African Ecological and Organic Agriculture (EOA) is still a small sector. Many research and development institutes and scientists in Africa are developing innovative techniques for more productive organic and agroecological systems. These efforts need to be embedded in an international research context. A further challenge is how to reduce the gap between smallholder farms and industrialized organic export farms. This is one of the main concerns in Morocco, where the Green Morocco Plan-GMP has been launched since 2008. The GMP has brought solutions, and has been a success to the level of being scaled up by the “Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) Initiative” to embrace more African countries. In this context, Organic farmers and scientists, both in developed and developing countries, in North Africa and European Union are called to: Join their efforts, pool their financial and human resources, and, share their traditional and scientific knowledge in order to provide quality food products and ensure food safety while preserving natural resources (Soil, Water and Air). During these conference’s days we will try to bring the answer of the main questions raised from the conference title: How can research contribute to bridge the current gap between Africa and Europe, with respect to organic agriculture? Best wishes for a successful meeting. 1 | P a g e 1st EU/North-African Conference on Organic Agriculture (EU-NACOA) 11-12th November 2019, Marrakech-Morocco Dr. Khalid Azim Conference Chair Ecological and Organic Agriculture (EOA) could bring a great contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation by: Reduction of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of CO2, N2O, Methane, (The total share of emissions from the agriculture production practices and food processing sector would be at least one-third of total GHG emissions). Carbon sequestration in soils and enhancing organic matter content; Optimization of mineral fertilizers utilization; Building resilient food systems in the face of uncertainties, Securing markets for small stakeholders and thus food security at regional scale. In order to discuss how EOA in Africa can be further developed as a sustainable and reliable model and how it could ensure food safety while preserving natural resources, in the framework of the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) Initiative (Launched upstream of COP22 organized in Morocco in 2016). This initiative aims to reduce the vulnerability of Africa and its agriculture to climate change). For those reasons, the conference aims to: Merge a critical mass of scientific capacity and skills from Europe and Africa, to deliver sustainable solutions by working at practical and theoretical levels; Bring together high profile scientists from both continents to discuss issues about organic inputs, innovation, organic research funding, ethics and address recommendations to relevant certification and regulation bodies; Address and confront African potentials to expand traditional organic agriculture in terms of genetic, agro-climatic and sociocultural diversity; Strengthen the "Organic Alternatives for Africa" initiative and to facilitate the integration of OA into strategic policies and the agricultural development program. And boost the cooperation between organic stakeholders in Africa and European Union at multilateral level. I hope we will be able to answer to the main question raised during this event: How can research contribute to bridge the current gap between Africa and Europe, with respect to organic agriculture? Thank you for joining us in EU-NACOA2019. 2 | P a g e 1st EU/North-African Conference on Organic Agriculture (EU-NACOA) 11-12th November 2019, Marrakech-Morocco Background Ecological and Organic farming systems and food production are pertinent solutions reducing hunger, climate change mitigation and adaptation, increased biodiversity and its functional role in environmental friendly production. It intends to ensure fair conditions for all stakeholders of the food chain along with responsible consumption. FAO recently declared that organic farming can enhance food security, rural development, sustainable livelihoods and environmental integrity by building capacities of stakeholders in organic production, processing, certification and marketing worldwide. The revised EU regulation to be implemented in 2021 will affect the import of organic products from third parties, and there is a need to understand how and develop efficient ways for its success. However, it still a small sector, African Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) is gaining success through the Ecological and OA Initiative (EOA-I) as confirmed during the last African Organic Conference held in Sally-Dakar (Senegal) in November 2018. African organic stakeholders and decision makers along with scientists were unanimous that African governments, continental and regional institutions, development partners, donors and private sector investors, should provide more support to develop OA in Africa. The conference intends to boost the cooperation between organic stakeholders in Africa with many countries at multilateral level. Organic expertise will be strengthened for the benefit of all African countries. Objectives of the conference Merge a critical mass of scientific capacity and skills from Europe and Africa, to deliver sustainable solutions by working at practical and theoretical level; Bring together high profiled scientists from both continents to discuss issues about organic inputs, innovation, organic research funding, ethics and address recommendations to relevant certification and regulation bodies; Address and confront African potentials to expand traditional organic agriculture in terms of genetic, agro-climatic and sociocultural diversity; Strengthen the "Organic Alternatives for Africa" initiative and to facilitate the integration of OA into strategic policies and the agricultural development program Discuss how OA in Africa can be further developed as a sustainable and reliable model to ensure food safety for all, in the framework of the AAA Initiative following the COP22 recommendations (Marrakech, Morocco 2016) Discuss the main question raised from the conference title: How can research contribute to bridge the current gap between Africa and Europe, with respect to organic agriculture? 3 | P a g e 1st EU/North-African Conference on Organic Agriculture (EU-NACOA) 11-12th November 2019, Marrakech-Morocco The Conference The event is a two-day scientific conference, along with a welcoming evening on the 10th of November, and an optional tour to innovative organic farms on the 13th November 2019. In addition to opening and completing plenary sessions, scientific sessions will be arranged, allowing discussions on how the presented contributions (keynote speakers, oral communications and posters) answer the questions below. The conference allowed 33 oral presentations and 62 posters to be presented from a total of 24 countries representing Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. Selected contributions will be invited to publish complete papers in a special issue of ISOFAR journal “Organic Agriculture” (https://link.springer.com/journal/13165). Conference Topics 1. Organic Food Systems, local products, state of art, socioeconomics aspects and marketing of organic products in Africa; 2. Organic agricultural systems design and management, diversification of organic farming and cropping systems, role of rotation, multi-cropping and intercropping. Agroforestry and agroecology; 3. Tailored techniques and practices for organic farming, soil fertility, preventive and curative measures for plant protection, organic weed management, post- harvest; 4. Agricultural waste management, nutrient cycling, environmental protection and role of bio-fertilizers bio-stimulant and bio-pesticides. Conference Sponsors INRA Morocco (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique-Rabat-Morocco) ISOFAR (International Society of Organic Agriculture Research-Germany) UM6P (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University-Morocco) FIMABIO (Federation of Organic Farming Movement-Morocco) AfrONet (African Organic Network-Tanzania) MAPMDREF (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water Resources and Forests-Morocco) UCAM (University of Caddy Ayad-Marrakesh-Morocco) IAV Hassan II (Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II-Rabat-Morocco) Strategic Partners MICROBIANA Association (Research Foundation-Marrakesh Morocco) CIHEAM Bari Alumni Network (FTN)-Italy IFOAM-EU (Federation