Ben Guerir, Morocco: The just-ended UM6P’s Science Week has shone a spotlight on the future of digital agriculture in Africa, highlighting both the immense potential and the formidable challenges that lie ahead. Experts gathered to discuss how technology can transform the continent’s agricultural landscape but also acknowledged the significant hurdles that must be overcome.
A stark reality was presented by Ken Lohento, Digital Agriculture specialist at the FAO’s regional office for Africa. He revealed that a mere 5% of small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa regularly utilize digital technology, leaving the vast majority behind in the adoption of crucial agricultural innovations. This digital divide is exacerbated by infrastructure limitations, with roughly half of all communities lacking reliable electricity access.
“Africa is not one country,” Lohento emphasized, highlighting the vast disparities in digital adoption across the continent. While nations like Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Tunisia have made strides in integrating digital agriculture, others, including Togo, Niger, Chad, and Guinea, face significant obstacles.
Mustapha El Bouhssini, Entomology Professor and Associate Dean for Research at UM6P, spoke of the transformative potential of digital agriculture and agroecology for both Morocco and the wider African continent. He explained how precision agriculture, enabled by modern technology, allows farmers to optimize resource use through detailed soil analysis and targeted input application.
The integration of AI and mobile applications is revolutionizing farm management. Farmers can now use their smartphones to photograph crop symptoms and receive immediate guidance on nutrient deficiencies or pest control. While larger farms are already reaping the benefits of advanced technologies like drones and sensors, cost remains a significant barrier for smaller farmers.
Morocco is making strides in its own agricultural digital transformation. El Bouhssini highlighted the country’s ambitious goal to implement conservation agriculture across one million hectares, a crucial step in the face of a prolonged seven-year drought. UM6P’s Al Moutmir extension service, with 100 engineers working across Morocco, demonstrates the country’s commitment to technology transfer, though digital solutions are needed to reach an even wider farming population.
In the realm of eco-agriculture, El Bouhssini noted that UM6P’s research focuses on environmentally friendly pest management approaches, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.
Experts at the Science Week event agreed that achieving food security in Africa will require a balanced approach, combining digital innovation with sustainable practices. This includes the precise application of essential nutrients like phosphorus, where Morocco’s vast phosphate reserves could play a key role in supporting continental food security while ensuring environmental protection through smart resource management. The importance of AI in driving Africa’s agricultural transition was also a recurring theme.
El Bouhssini emphasized UM6P’s commitment to contributing to African food security through research focused on providing essential inputs like phosphorus and other fertilizers. As Africa strives to feed its growing population, the integration of digital technology, sustainable practices, and strategic resource management will be critical to success.
