Moroccan farmers are facing significant hurdles from accelerating climate change, including drought and rising temperatures, prompting a search for sustainable solutions to maintain crop yields. However, legal barriers in Morocco complicate the adoption of cutting-edge techniques like genetic modification, which are gaining traction in other countries.
In the United States, researchers have developed a genetically modified potato capable of withstanding heat stress. Field trials in Illinois show the strain could increase yields by 30% under high temperatures. But such advancements are unlikely to reach Morocco, where laws, similar to those in the European Union, prohibit the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture.
“Genetic modification is banned in Morocco; it is not allowed for any type of agriculture, including potatoes,” said Kamal Abrakani, a professor at the Multidisciplinary Faculty in Nador.
Abrakani noted that genomic selection, which involves identifying naturally resilient plant varieties without direct genetic modification, offers a viable alternative. “This approach aligns with Moroccan laws and focuses on crops that can resist environmental stresses such as heat and drought,” he told Hespress.
Morocco is collaborating on a Euro-African project to develop drought-resistant crops using genomic selection, particularly for eggplants. Experiments in Moroccan, Turkish, and Italian laboratories indicate that these plants can maintain productivity with 50% less water, Abrakani said.
Legal restrictions not only ban genetic modification but also prohibit importing genetically modified seeds, Abrakani added.
The professor also highlighted the dual challenges of heat stress and water stress, which often occur simultaneously, worsening crop difficulties. “Heat stress prevents plants from absorbing water properly, even if the soil has enough moisture,” he said, noting that this confusion often leads farmers to misdiagnose the issue.
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