The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) organised a forum in Meknes, Morocco, on "sustainable value chains" on 20 April 2017, in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests.
The objective of the forum, according to a press release from the EBRD, was "to examine opportunities for improving the economic, social and environmental sustainability of Morocco's agrifood sector". Participants included "agribusinesses, producers' associations (and) financial institutions".
The forum looked at the case of Morocco, where agriculture plays a significant role in the country's economy and "employs 40% of the country's workforce". However, the EBRD states that the agricultural sector continues to face major challenges and that significant measures must be taken to make it more sustainable. It also says that working with the private sector is the key.
During the forum, CIHEAM announced that it wanted to launch an initiative called “Mediterranean Pact for sustainable agriculture and food”. This aims to bring together "several public and private actors around strong engagements for the sustainable development of inclusive value chains" and to address "food security, sustainable management of natural resources and employment issues especially for youth and women". (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)