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On January 20, 2024 in Berlin, Morocco and Germany signed the agreement to implement the second phase of the “German-Moroccan Technical Dialogue on Agriculture and Forestry” (DIAF) project, established as part of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Signed by Cem Özdemir, German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Mohammed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Sea Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forestry, on the fringes of Berlin's Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, the agreement focuses on organic production, inter-company cooperation as well as exchanges between the two countries in the fields of science, innovation and good agricultural practice.
The DIAF project has three components: the promotion of organic farming; the professionalisation of professional agricultural and forestry organisations (OPAF); and the improvement of planning and control in the forestry sector. GOPA AFC implemented the first phase from 2019 to 2023 and continues the project activities in the second phase from 2024 to 2026.
Strengthening organic agriculture
The bilateral technical dialogue on agriculture and forestry follows on from Morocco’s “Génération Green 2020–2030” strategy and provides support in three areas in particular. On the one hand, the ministry will be advised on the implementation of its strategies to promote organic farming. On the other hand, the ministerial capacities for ensuring the conformity of Moroccan organic standards with the new EU organic legislation are being strengthened. Furthermore, the establishment of institutional structures for the development of expertise in organic farming is being supported.
The project supports the analysis of the Moroccan law on organic agriculture to achieve conformity with the new EU organic regulation and strengthens the capacities of state vocational training organisations, advisory services and controlling authorities. The Ministry of Agriculture is advised on the implementation of an organic action plan and partnerships are maintained with research and knowledge transfer organisations in Germany (Bavarian State Institute for Agriculture), Europe (Indaha-a-Nova bioregion in Portugal) and North Africa (SEKEM).
The major goals of the project are:
Development of a sustainably organised organic farming sector
Promotion of legal and institutional frameworks
Strengthening organic agricultural education and extension
Support in capacity building and development of institutional structures for agroecological innovations
Advice on the development of agroecological production approaches in selected bioregions
Supporting inter-company cooperation in the agriculture and forestry sector
In the agricultural sector, the strategic focus lies on further developing inter-company cooperation with the aim of improving the self-organisation and economic prospects of the associations. Of particular importance is the marketing of products and the integration of the associations into value chains. In the forestry sector, in particular improving organisational structures and internal communication within the cooperatives and associations.
In the first phase, mergers were examined in terms of their performance and weaknesses. The legal framework of inter-company cooperation was analysed and proposals for improvements made. An advisory service was established, especially for the professionalisation of inter-company cooperation. Moreover, 40 cooperative managers were trained to promote further development of their associations. To ensure sustainability, a training kit for cooperatives was elaborated.
During the second phase, the project aims at:
Further development of the cooperative sector and the funding instruments for the development of inter-company associations in the agricultural and forestry sector (ÜZAF)
Institutionalisation, dissemination and certification of the advisory approach for inter-company cooperatives developed in phase 1
Establishment of a virtual dialogue and management platform for ÜZAF and advisors
Training of trainers for 40 advisors for ÜZAF
Further training of 25 ÜZAF managers in 3 pilot regions.
For more information, please contact: Daniela.boehm [at] gopa-afc.de