UM6P hosts talks on evidence-based agricultural policy in Africa
Leaders at a Rabat conference called for stronger use of research to guide farm policy across the continent.
MOROCCO – Mohammed VI Polytechnic University hosted a high level policy meeting on January 12 that focused on how solid research can guide farm policy across Africa.
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, working with J-PAL and OCP Nutricrops, held the UJALA Policy Conference at its Rabat campus.
According to reporting by Morocco World News, the meeting drew policymakers, researchers, and field practitioners who shared ideas on how evidence can shape farm decisions in regions facing climate stress, low yields, and tight public budgets.
The conference ran under the theme “Aligning research, public action, and field practice for an evidence driven agricultural future.” Speakers agreed that African agriculture needs clear links between research results, public choices, and what farmers do on the ground.
Agriculture and policy pressure
UM6P President Hicham El Habti opened the meeting by stressing agriculture’s role in Africa’s economy and daily life. He said the sector makes up about 23 percent of Africa’s GDP and provides work for over 60 percent of the active population. He also pointed to deep structural weaknesses.
More than 65 percent of Africa’s farmland suffers from soil degradation, while crop yields sit two to three times below the global average. Climate shocks continue to raise risks for farmers and governments alike.
“In such a context, the question is no longer only what to do, but how to decide, on what basis, with which learning tools, and with what capacity to adapt over time,” El Habti said.
He added that policy choices in agriculture shape livelihoods for millions of people and leave long term effects, which makes evidence based decisions essential rather than optional.
From research to real action
El Habti said the conference created a shared space where research, policy, and field practice stay in close contact. He argued that evaluation must guide programs from the start instead of coming after completion.
UM6P puts this approach into practice through its College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and projects such as Al Moutmir. These efforts turn research and agronomic data into clear advice that farmers can apply directly in their fields.
Scaling what works
UJALA, the UM6P and J-PAL Applied Lab for Agriculture, tests and evaluates farm programs using strict methods. The lab shows what works, for which farmers, and under which conditions. Its work helps improve public policy and protect farm spending through learning based on facts.
Youssef El Bari, CEO of OCP Nutricrops, spoke about the need to expand solutions that prove effective. He stressed the value of keeping science, evaluation, and decision making closely linked, especially when programs reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of farmers.
“When programs scale, decisions must rely on clear evidence so that impact remains strong over time,” El Bari said.
This thinking led OCP Nutricrops to create an internal Evaluation and Learning unit that guides program changes, priorities, and long term results.
The conference agenda also covered smallholder productivity, soil health, climate resilience, and digital tools in farming. Panels and keynote talks showed how research can guide better policy choices and practical responses as African agriculture faces rising pressure to deliver food security under harder conditions.
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