ASARI convened 300 experts to address salinity and drought in African drylands

From the 20^th to the 22^nd of May, the African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI) organized the third edition of the Laayoune International Forum on Biosaline and Arid Land Agriculture (LAFOBA3) in Laayoune, in collaboration with the Phosboucraa Foundation and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

The forum gathered over 300 researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from 25 countries, and featured more than 200 research contributions from 55 countries, addressing critical challenges such as soil salinity, drought, and land degradation in arid regions. Organized around 11 thematic tracks, the agenda included four parallel sessions, three onsite and one virtual featuring 125 oral presentations, 17 keynote addresses, and 35 poster sessions. The topics covered included salt-tolerant crops, efficient irrigation systems, climate-smart agriculture, soil mapping, and public policy for marginal environments.

Building on the success of previous editions, LAFOBA3 reinforced Morocco’s role as a regional hub for biosaline agriculture and sustainable land management, while showcasing ASARI’s leadership in promoting innovation for dryland resilience and inclusive development in the Global South.