Meknes — The second day of the 18th “International Agricultural Exhibition of Morocco” shifted from ceremony to strategy, as a high-level conference in Meknes brought together ministers, experts, and agricultural stakeholders around one of the fair’s core questions: how to transform animal production systems under mounting climate and market pressure?
Held today, the conference centered on livestock resilience, food consumption trends, and the future of food systems at a time when Morocco and other countries are reassessing how to secure supply without losing sight of sustainability.
SIAM 2026 runs from April 20 to April 28 in Meknes, with Portugal as guest of honor and sustainability in animal production at the center of the fair’s broader agenda.
Morocco’s Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari opened the conference by placing livestock at the heart of national agricultural policy, in line with the “Green Generation 2020-2030” strategy.
According to the ministry’s conference note, animal production accounts for around 35% of Morocco’s agricultural GDP, supports nearly 1.2 million breeders, and generates roughly 135 million workdays each year. Against that backdrop, El Bouari presented the sector not only as an economic pillar but as a strategic one, especially after years of drought weakened herds and put added pressure on farmers and ranchers.
“We have convened this high-level conference on the production of livestock and livestock education and to share experiences with friendly and neighboring countries that have experience in this field,” he told Morocco World News (MWN). “We are optimistic for the Moroccan farmers and ranchers to have quality and abundance on the national level.”
Shared challenges, different priorities
Portugal’s José Manuel Fernandes used the conference to stress that agricultural cooperation must move beyond symbolism and produce concrete solutions. Water management, soil health, research, and animal and plant health all featured prominently in his message, reflecting the shared Mediterranean pressures facing both countries as they try to modernize production while protecting food security. Morocco and Portugal also used SIAM to deepen bilateral agricultural ties, with both sides emphasizing research, innovation, and sustainable production systems.*
“Cooperation means a win-win situation, and cooperation must be strengthened. We have a lot to learn with Morocco,” Fernandes told MWN. “Morocco can also have the knowledge that we have in many areas, areas such as water management, which is very important.”
France’s Annie Genevard, Minister of Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Food Sovereignty, brought a slightly different emphasis, focusing on equilibrium between productivity, health, and sustainability.
She talked about how “balance is a condition of sustainability,” while praising Morocco’s agricultural momentum and underlining the need to secure resources through innovation.
Ivory Coast’s Bruno Nabagné Koné, for his part, highlighted Morocco’s strength in research, soil management, fertilization, and small-scale production, presenting Moroccan expertise as a valuable model for African cooperation.
A day about more than speeches
“We have seen that Morocco is a very dynamic country in small-scale production. There is also progress in agricultural equipment. We will perhaps look at other aspects, such as small-scale mechanization and the transformation of agricultural output. Therefore, I would like to say that Morocco has a very good relationship with the world,” Koné told MWN.
Beyond these ministerial remarks, the conference was structured around two high-level panels, one on the resilience of animal production systems and another on consumption, meat-market dynamics, and shifting global dietary trends.
The exchanges pointed repeatedly to the same priorities: sustainable feed, farm modernization, genetic improvement, stronger sector organization, and adaptation to new consumer expectations.
Today’s SIAM gathering especially tackled how countries facing drought, market volatility, and resource strain can still build food systems that are more resilient, more modern, and more secure.
