January 15, 2025, Agadir. The third BONEX workshop, held at the TIMOULAY Hotel, gathred 44 participants to explore strategies, mechanisms, and key stakeholders that can facilitate the implementation of integrating desalinated water use and other technological innovations for sustainable agriculture within the WEFE Nexus framework in the Souss-Massa DP.
The workshop started with a welcoming session, followed by a presentation outlining the BONEX project objectives then the ORMVA Souss-Massa team gave an in-depth overview of the region’s current situation regarding water desalination and its application in agriculture. This presentation offered valuable insights into the challenges faced by the region, especially with regard to water management and how it affects sustainable agriculture.
The BONEX project’s (IAV) National Coordinator detailed the progress achieved and the promising prospects of this innovative initiative, which aims to integrate technological solutions into the regional agricultural practices. Following her intervention, the scientific members of the BONEX project elaborated on the research conducted so far, key findings, and the methodology adopted to ensure the successful execution of the workshop.
A defining aspect of the event was the strong participation of local stakeholders, who actively contributed to the discussions. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding the workshop’s interactive format, which fostered dynamic exchanges among participants. The engagement of these stakeholders was recognized as essential to addressing the challenges related to the implementation of new technologies in the region, particularly in consolidating advancements in water desalination through solar energy, the application of bio-stimulants and biofertilizers, waste management, and the implementation of closed systems.
In addition, the workshop identified key mechanisms and strategies to facilitate the integrated implementation of these technological innovations. These were categorized into different action categories, including management practices, knowledge transfer, financial resources, technology, institutional arrangements, and community engagement instruments. By addressing these various dimensions, the workshop aimed to provide a comprehensive roadmap for the effective adoption and scaling of these solutions in the region.
Moreover, the workshop underscored the importance of strengthening synergies across different sectors, thus promoting an integrated and sustainable approach to the WEFE Nexus. The active involvement of various actors—including agricultural producers, local authorities, and experts—highlighted the critical need for open dialogue platforms to encourage collaboration and facilitate the implementation of suggested solutions.
