UEMF and AFD launch the "Tech4Farmers" program

Launch of the Tech4Farmers Call for Applications, a support program specifically designed for project leaders in the innovative technology sector for agriculture (AgriTech).

During a launch conference that brought together key players in the agricultural sector of the Fez-Meknes region this Thursday, March 7th, at the Université Euromed de Fès (UEMF), the University and the French Development Agency (AFD) officially kicked off the Tech4Farmers program. Its goal is to support the development and market launch of AgriTech solutions that meet the needs of national agriculture and the Fez-Meknes region in particular.

The Tech4Farmers program is part of an ambitious project to build a Regional Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in agriculture and agri-food in the Fez-Meknes region. This project is led by UEMF and AFD in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, the Digital Hub for Agriculture, and a consortium of partners including government agencies, sectoral federations, universities, and research centers.

Tech4Farmers: A Complete Platform to Accelerate the Market Launch of AgriTech Solutions

Tech4Farmers is a 12-month incubation program, deployed by UEMF and AFD with the help of IMPACT Lab and BearingPoint consultancies. It aims to support the acceleration of startups for the market launch of AgriTech solutions that meet the needs of the Moroccan market, and the Fez-Meknes region in particular.

Tech4Farmers will enable project leaders to work both on developing their prototypes to reach marketable solutions, and on developing their business plan and market launch strategies.

Project leaders will benefit from training and personalized coaching to structure their entrepreneurial approaches, define the key elements of their business plan, and address their needs for specific expertise.

Thanks to access to the laboratories and equipment of the program's partners, project leaders will be able to rapidly advance their solutions from a technological standpoint. They will also receive financial support of up to 100,000 dirhams to cover their equipment and expertise needs.

Finally, they will have access to collaboration opportunities with agricultural companies in the Fez-Meknes region. This will allow them to confront market reality and validate the relevance of their offerings against the needs of their target customers, while collecting field data. Through this dynamic, the program aims to accelerate the dissemination of technological solutions to farmers in the Fez-Meknes region.

“The Tech4Farmers program is the first initiative we are launching within the framework of the Fez-Meknes AgriTech Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub. Through this program, we want to instill a new dynamic among project leaders committed to a competitive and sustainable Moroccan agriculture, and we will continue to support them through the Hub's future initiatives,” says Florent Sassatelli, Head of the Social Sectors Division at AFD.

Twenty projects will be selected to participate in this first cohort of the program

Selected projects must propose AgriTech solutions targeting the Moroccan market and possessing a first prototype. They must also address the key themes chosen for this edition based on a study conducted with farmers in the region.

Projects will be evaluated based on their application file submitted on the platform http://impactlab.africa/tech4farmers, and a presentation before a jury of experts who will assess the innovative nature of the proposed solution, the maturity level of the prototype, alignment with the program's themes, the quality of the project leaders, the relevance of the business plan, and the startup's growth potential.

“Tech4Farmers offers a unique opportunity for AgriTech project leaders to contribute to transforming the agricultural landscape of the Fez-Meknes region and to join a network that brings together key institutions in the sector in Morocco. For this program, we are looking for talented and ambitious profiles, capable of ultimately taking their innovations beyond the Moroccan market,” states Ghada Bouhlal, Director of Partnerships and Entrepreneurship at UEMF.

The deadline for submitting applications is April 07, 2024.