Coordinator: Forschungsinstitut für Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft an der RWTH Aachen e. V.
Contact Person: Dipl.-Ing. Manuel Krauß und M.Sc. Ahlem Jomaa
Address: Kackertstraße 15-17, 52056 Aachen
Phone: +49 (0) 241 80 2 68 43
Email: krauss(at)fiw.rwth-aachen.de und jomaa(at)fiw.rwth-aachen.de
Project partners in Germany
Project partners in Marocco
Morocco is considered an emerging country in the Maghreb. One of the pillars of economic development is agriculture. In a transition region to the Sahara, this development is having a massive impact on an already fragile system of land and water use. Embedded in water management strategies and socio-scientific investigations, the German-Moroccan project I-WALAMAR is developing innovative agricultural and cycle management techniques. The project is thus creating an impetus for sustainable land, water and material flow management in Morocco.
Prosperous agriculture in harmony with sustainable resource management
The changing Moroccan agricultural system is currently experiencing intensification and commercialisation. This has significant social and economic impacts on soil and water resources in the main growing areas. In addition, the climate crisis is causing stress on local water and land resources.
The aim of the I-WALAMAR joint project is to test and implement practical solutions for Morocco with regard to local recycling, the preservation of ecosystem services, the restoration of heavily degraded soils and the optimisation of crops by means of innovative research approaches. This is being implemented using the Fés Meknès region as an example. To this end, elements of cycle-based resource management will be introduced and contributions for sustainable integrated farm management will be developed.
In the I-WALAMAR consortium, four research institutes and three commercial enterprises from Germany are working together with Moroccan partners from the agricultural and water industries under the management of the Université Moulay Ismael.
Impetus for cycle-related sustainable agriculture and water management
The consortium is seeking to implement a needs- and location-based agricultural approach which explores concepts and measures for the extraction and protection of agricultural land and the recovery of residues. The bundle of research and development measures continues to include interactions between water and land resources and socio-economic effects.
The methodology involves collecting and assessing the socio-economic impact of new management techniques on farms and the rural population. Concepts for rational and environmentally-friendly use and protection of land and water resources are also being advanced. The demonstration of technologies for the collection, processing and utilisation of alternative resources such as agricultural waste products and sewage sludge is also part of the project. In addition, new technologies for the production of soil-improving substrates as well as for surface and soil preparation will be demonstrated, substrate application and irrigation technology will be optimised and new cultivation methods will be developed. Finally, a synthesis of R&D measures and impact assessment on changes in rural livelihoods in the context of social, economic and political transformations is planned. The potential for adaptation and innovation of the involved actors should be further developed.
Technical and strategic recommendations for action
From the results of the investigations, the project participants are hoping for innovative and practical methods for the promotion of resource-efficient agriculture within the framework of integrated land, water and material flow management while taking into account socio-economic considerations. Using augmented reality technology, the material flows and interactions of the research aspects will be made tangible.
The results should be used directly in the agricultural and water management practices in the Fés Meknes region and stimulate international cooperation. In addition, bilateral research cooperation and economic collaboration are to be strengthened.
