São Paulo – Brazil’s agricultural research agency Embrapa signed a strategic cooperation agreement on Monday (24) with Morocco’s OCP Group—OCP Fertilizers and OCP Nutricrops—and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University to strengthen research and development in sustainable agriculture, Embrapa reported.
The signing ceremony took place in Morocco, at the campus of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Ben Guerir, featuring authorities from the partner institutions, including Embrapa’s president, Silvia Massruhá. According to Embrapa, the collaboration aims to develop innovative solutions to address global challenges related to food security and sustainability.
“This initiative represents the strengthening of joint efforts that’ll benefit research in both Brazil and Morocco, countries whose potential will contribute to knowledge exchange and the development of innovative solutions in future scenarios,” said Massruhá, who leads Embrapa’s delegation to the Arab country. The delegation also includes international relations advisory head Marcelo Morandi, advisor Jane Simoni, and Embrapa Soils researcher, Paulo Cesar Teixeira.
The agreement outlines the implementation of projects focused on the transfer of advanced agricultural technologies, the training of researchers and students, as well as the promotion of ecologically responsible farming practices and the improvement of nutrient use efficiency. The actions will also include the development of innovative fertilizers, the application of digital agriculture techniques, crop biofortification, and the promotion of a circular economy in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, the plan is to facilitate academic exchanges and enhance the capabilities of researchers and students from both countries.
“By combining our knowledge and cutting-edge solutions with Embrapa’s globally recognized expertise, our goal is to empower farmers to increase yield and nutritional quality of their crops, ensuring a more resilient and prosperous future for people and the environment,” said Marcos Stelzer, CEO of OCP Fertilizers. Former Brazilian Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues, now a consultant for OCP, also participated, along with other officials.
Embrapa is on a mission to Morocco until February 26, with a schedule of activities that includes a visit to an experimental farm in Marrakesh, participation in workshops, and a trip to the Ben Guerir plant, one of OCP’s mining units in Morocco. The schedule also includes a visit to the facilities at the Jorf Lasfar port, which houses OCP’s largest fertilizer production platform in the world.
Embrapa and OCP
Embrapa is a public company known for its advanced research in agribusiness. It is affiliated to Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, with a mission to develop the technological foundation for a model of tropical agriculture and livestock farming. OCP Fertilizers is a subsidiary of OCP Nutricrops, which is part of the century-old OCP Group from Morocco. The company has been operating in Brazil since 2010 and is the leading supplier of phosphate fertilizers for Brazilian agriculture.
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Translated by Guilherme Miranda
