Morocco and Australia have strengthened scientific ties in agriculture following the signing of a new research partnership aimed at enhancing climate resilience and improving food security.

Morocco’s National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) signed a memorandum of understanding on February 10 in Rabat, expanding cooperation in sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient farming systems.

The agreement was formalised by INRA Director Lamiae Ghaouti and ACIAR Research Program Manager Rita Ritchie during an official Australian delegation visit led by Ambassador Damian Donovan.

Backed by a $76 Million Climate Initiative

The partnership forms part of the Africa–Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture, a six-year initiative valued at approximately $76.4 million. The programme supports collaboration between African and Australian research institutions to strengthen farming system resilience and enhance food security through scientific research and capacity building.

The initiative focuses particularly on North and West Africa, including Morocco, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria, ensuring that research solutions are adapted to local environmental and socio-economic conditions.

Joint Research and Innovation

Under the agreement, INRA and ACIAR will develop joint research projects and expand cooperation in training, knowledge exchange and scientific innovation. The partnership is designed to strengthen professional networks between researchers while promoting the practical application of research findings to improve farming systems.

Priority areas include climate-resilient agriculture, water-use efficiency, drought management, pasture improvement and conservation agriculture. These focus areas are critical as African agricultural systems face increasing climate variability, prolonged droughts and mounting water scarcity.

Supporting Morocco’s Agricultural Transformation

The cooperation aligns with Morocco’s “Generation Green 2020–2030” strategy, which prioritises agricultural modernisation, sustainability and value chain development. The strategy seeks to raise productivity while improving resilience to climate stress — an urgent priority as drought conditions and pressure on water resources intensify.

Morocco continues to face structural climate challenges, including arid and semi-arid conditions that threaten key agricultural value chains. Strengthening technical partnerships with countries such as Australia — which has extensive experience managing agriculture under water-scarce conditions — is seen as a strategic step toward mitigating these risks.

Promoting Inclusive and Climate-Smart Agriculture

Beyond research collaboration, the Africa–Australia programme emphasises inclusive agricultural development. It supports women’s participation in agricultural innovation systems and aims to strengthen local research capacity across participating countries.

The cooperation is expected to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart farming practices, helping producers improve productivity while safeguarding natural resources.

As climate risks intensify across the continent, expanded international research partnerships such as this signal a growing recognition that resilient, innovation-driven agriculture will be central to Africa’s long-term food security and sustainable development.