The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mr. Kamel Baddari, accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Mr. Yacine El Mahdi Oualid, presided on February 8, 2026, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, over the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement aimed at involving laboratories under the Higher Education and Scientific Research sector in conducting agricultural analyses, particularly soil and fertilizer analyses.

This agreement seeks to mobilize universities and their laboratories to carry out various agricultural analyses for the benefit of farmers and investors. It is based on a scientific approach designed to create synergies among existing university capacities, harmonize protocols, and ensure the quality of analyses, while strengthening applied research, practical training, and the transfer of knowledge to the agricultural sector.

The agreement was signed by the Director General of Agricultural Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries and by the Director General of Scientific Research and Technological Development at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. It aims to:

• address the structural shortage in the supply of reliable and standards-compliant analytical services;
• improve the quality of technical decision-making related to agricultural practices;
• optimize the use of inputs in line with the objectives of modernization and sustainability of agricultural production systems;
• strengthen scientific research, applied training, and the effective transfer of knowledge to the agricultural field;
• assess the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soils in order to determine their fertilization needs;
• evaluate the quality of irrigation water and its impact on soils and crops;
• analyze fertilizers to verify their compliance with standards and to control nutrient content (N-P-K);
• analyze seeds and seedlings to ensure their quality and compliance with applicable specifications.

In addition, the two parties agreed to support and guide students in undertaking scientific internships and in preparing their final-year theses in this field. They also decided to intensify research and development activities related to varietal production and selection, relying on modern molecular techniques, and to propose the registration of new varieties capable of adapting to various conditions.

The agreement also provides for the selection and improvement of irrigation water quality, as well as the optimization of fertilizer formulations.

On this occasion, another agreement was signed between the Technical Institute for Field Crops and the Directorate General of Forests, aimed at equipping the institute with drones to monitor the development of field crops, particularly in terms of yield and the control of diseases and pests.