ICARDA Co-Organizes the 7th Pan-African Conference on Agricultural Engineering
Fez, Morocco | October 22–24, 2025 – ICARDA, in collaboration with ANAFIDE, the Pan-African Society for Agricultural Engineering (AfroAgEng) and other partners, co-organized the 7th Pan-African Conference on Agricultural Engineering, under the theme “Water Management for Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture in Africa,” at the Marriott Hotel in Fez.
The hybrid conference brought together experts, researchers, policymakers, and partners from at least 15 countries across the continent to tackle the pressing challenges of agricultural water management under climate change. Over three days, participants engaged in a rich program featuring plenary sessions and side events, exchanging experiences and showcasing practical solutions to improve water use efficiency, strengthen resilience, and promote sustainable agriculture in Africa.
The event kicked off with a series of opening remarks from representatives of the organizing and partner institutions, including Mr. Ahmed El Bouari, Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, who reaffirmed Morocco’s pan-African commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and prosperous agriculture, emphasizing the country’s ambitious programs to modernize irrigation systems, develop non-conventional water sources, and expand desalination powered by renewable energy, positioning Morocco as a continental laboratory for hydraulic innovation.
During the following plenary session, Dr. Mina Devkota, ICARDA’s Senior Agronomist, delivered a keynote speech on “Conservation Agriculture as a Climate-Smart Strategy to Improve Crop Productivity and Soil Health in Rainfed and Irrigated Drylands.” This speech emphasized the need for farmer-centered innovation, soil health restoration, and integrated farming systems to tackle drought and land degradation in Africa’s drylands.
On October 23, ICARDA led the Soil and Water Conservation sub-theme, organizing a technical session titled “Use of Green Energy in Sustainable Agriculture Water Management in Africa,” chaired by Dr. Krishna Devkota, Senior Scientist–Dryland Farming. The session discussed how renewable energy solutions can enhance the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural water management systems, as well as bottlenecks, constraints, and enablers for scaling water-smart innovations across Africa.
During the session, Prof. Chandra A. Madramootoo, Honorary President of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) and Professor at McGill University, presented on “Green Energy Transition for Realizing Water Security". He highlighted the potential of Controlled Drainage and Subirrigation as practical, sustainable approaches for managing water in agriculture.
“Controlled drainage can reduce nitrate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and even slightly increase crop yields, yet its adoption among farmers remains limited. The best way to encourage wider uptake is by monetizing its environmental benefits such as cleaner water and lower emissions, so this innovation becomes both sustainable and profitable”.
— Prof. Chandra A. Madramootoo
Bringing in the perspective of digital innovation, Dr. Anas Mansouri, Director at DRIP SYS presented on “Evaluating the Impact of Smart Irrigation on Water Productivity, Energy Savings, and GHG Reduction.” He showcased a smart irrigation platform that uses remote sensing and AI to guide crop-specific irrigation.
Dr. Mohie Omar, Senior Researcher in Soil, Water Agronomy and ICARDA Egypt Country Coordinator, presented on “Green Energy Generation and Water Rationalization at the Farm Level.” Dr. Omar highlighted ICARDA’s practical solutions such as collective solar systems, hybrid agrivoltaics, and improved irrigation scheduling which have reduced system costs by 42% and gained strong farmer support.
Joining online, Dr. Mohamed Naouri, Senior Postdoctoral Associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology examined the broader North African context, addressing water–energy challenges and pathways toward sustainable agricultural development, emphasizing the need for integrated policies and investment to scale green solutions.
The session concluded with Prof. Ragab Ragab, Honorary President of CIID, shifting the discussion towards the Water–Energy–Food Nexus, underscoring the importance of renewable energy integration to ensure both water and energy security and support sustainable agricultural growth across the region.
Through its strong participation, ICARDA reaffirmed its commitment to advancing climate-smart and resource-efficient water management across Africa. The conference served as a valuable platform to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and support the region’s transition toward resilient, inclusive, and water-secure food systems.
