• Morocco, Australia sign climate-smart agriculture research deal
• A$76 million program backs six-year Africa initiative
• Drought-hit Morocco seeks Australian arid farming expertise

Morocco's National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) signed a cooperation agreement in Rabat on Tuesday to deepen collaboration in applied research, innovation and climate adaptation in agriculture.

The partnership will focus on joint research projects, capacity building, training, the exchange of expertise and the development of climate-smart agricultural solutions, local media reported.

The agreement is part of the Africa-Australia Program for Climate-Smart Agriculture, launched in 2025. The six-year initiative is backed by 76 million Australian dollars ($53 million) and supports research and development of sustainable farming practices in four North and West African countries, including Morocco.

For Morocco, cooperation with Canberra in agricultural research is strategic given Australia's expertise in farming in arid conditions. Despite recurring droughts, Australia is a major player in global wheat and livestock markets.

Australia ranks as the world’s sixth-largest wheat producer after China, the European Union, India, Russia and the United States, with average output of 34.2 million metric tons between 2021 and 2023, according to the FAO. The U.N. agency says the country exported nearly 27 million metric tons annually on average over the same period, making it the world’s third-largest exporter behind Russia and the European Union.

In livestock, data from the Trade Map platform show Australia is the world’s second-largest exporter of live cattle after Canada.

In Morocco, cereal production, particularly wheat, and livestock are among the agricultural sectors most affected by the drought that has impacted the country for seven consecutive years. Cereal output fell 42% to 3.3 million metric tons in the 2023/2024 season, the lowest level on record. Authorities reported in 2025 that 38% of cattle and sheep had been lost since 2016.

Stéphanas Assocle