The Third International Laayoune Forum on Biosaline and Arid Land Agriculture
Shaping future agriculture in salt affected and arid lands
the chair
LAFOBA3 best-of
Dear Colleagues,
It is a pleasure to announce the Third edition of the International Laayoune Forum on Biosaline and Arid Land Agriculture (LAFOBA3). This conference is organized jointly by the African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and Phosboucraa foundation. LAFOBA3 will be physically held from May 20th to 22nd 2025 in Laayoune city, Morocco.
The Forum is organized in view of enormous impact the soil and water salinization, drought and climate change have on ecosystems, agriculture, livelihoods and food security worldwide. Therefore, it is crucial to map the areas already affected by salinity or at risk on a global scale, develop, and implement strategies and practices to effectively and efficiently address this issue.
The forum is also a continuation of the previous successful First and second International Laayoune Forum on Biosaline Agriculture, as salinity and drought still affect many aspects of human life. Moreover, the concept of using saline water for irrigation and stress tolerant crops to increase food production has been advocated by many research scientists, organizations, institutions and authorities for the last five decades.
Furthermore, the forum will look at the progress that has been made in salinity and drought management at national, regional and global levels. As practice and policy on agricultural management in salt affected and dry land have been further advanced, the forum will benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers and experts. Thus, it will serve as a platform for exchange of knowledge on the latest advancements on salinity and drought in marginal environments.
Important Dates
- Abstract submission deadlineJan 31, 2025
- Abstract acceptance notificationFeb 28, 2025
- Full file submission deadlineMay 19, 2025
- Registration end dateApr 30, 2025
Meet Our Speakers
Prof. Mark Tester
Chair of the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia;
Before becoming a professor of plant science and the associate director of the Center for Desert Agriculture at KAUST, Mark Tester received his BSc with honours in plant sciences from the University of Adelaide. He then completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge, where he worked alongside Enid MacRobbie in the study of potassium ion channels.
Since moving to KAUST, Tester has delivered on the promise that lies at the heart of his research, founding agritech company Red Sea Farms to apply his research to the challenges of environmental sustainability and economic viability.
Much of Tester’s current research revolves around salinity and developing crops that grow in salty soils or can be irrigated with saline water. He focuses on two main approaches. One is taking a crop, such as tomatoes, and engineering it to become more salt tolerant.
The other is to take a salt-tolerant plant, like sea asparagus, and turn it into a commercial crop. Both approaches could provide a sustainable alternative to humanity’s use of freshwater within agricultural production.
With KAUST acting primarily as a research university, Tester’s average day consists of tackling a diversity of research problems, delivering research outputs through published papers and students’ theses, and developing Red Sea Farms.
Dr. Fatma Sarsu
Section Head, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre – Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria;
Experienced R&D professional in agriculture with a solid background in analytical, project manager and technical leader positions at FAO/IAEA Joint Division Food and Agriculture and General Directorate of Agricultural Research in Turkey. I hold a PhD from the University of Ankara on plant breeding . I am an author, or a co-author of more than 30 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters published extensively on themes relating to crop improvement using biotechnologies, and seed delivery system.
Prof. Rick Jellen
Professor of genetics at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, USA;
Dr. Eric “Rick” Jellen is a professor of genetics at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Prior to joining the faculty in 1996, he obtained a doctorate in Ron Phillips’ lab at the University of Minnesota and did postdoctoral research on cereals with Bikram Gill and Stan Cox at Kansas State University. His research is focused on genome characterization of oat (Avena) and the pseudocereal quinoa (Chenopodium) and their genomic relationship to their wild relatives. His primary basic research interest is the evolution of chromosome structural variation (SV) and its effects on recombination. A major focus of his applied research is incorporation of genetic variation from wild species to expand the adaptation of quinoa for production in warm-season, subtropical, and lowland tropical environments.
Prof. Hirt Heribert
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia;
Hirt studied biochemistry at the Univ. of Cape Town and Vienna where he received his PhD in 1987. After post-doctoral fellowships at the Univ. of Oxford and Wageningen, he became Professor of Genetics at the Univ. of Vienna. In 2007, he was nominated Director of the INRAe Plant Genomics Institute in Paris and of the Center for Desert Agriculture at KAUST in 2014. Hirt has a long standing record on how plants can survive under abiotic or biotic stress conditions (several hundred publications, h-index 100). His current research is focused on how desert plants can survive under abiotic or biotic stress conditions by identifying and using beneficial desert microbes. His work aims to provide sustainable solutions to restore vegetation and agriculture in arid regions by improving drought, heat and/or salt tolerance of crops.
Website : http://www.heribert-hirt.org
Dr. Vinay Nangia
Principal Scientist and Research Program Director - Soil, Water, and Agronomy at ICARDA, Professor at Tottori University, Japan, adjunct faculty at Texas A&M University, USA;
Dr. Vinay Nangia is a Principal Scientist and Research Program Director - Soil, Water, and Agronomy at ICARDA, a professor at Tottori University in Japan and an adjunct faculty at Texas A&M University (USA). Dr. Nangia has a Ph.D. degree in Water Resources Management and two master’s degrees - first in Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering and the second in Geographic Information Science – all from the University of Minnesota, USA. His leadership and team building skills have helped solve complex challenges to water resource management posed by climate change. His work has been supported by US$ 35 million of grant support from various donors such as the AFESD, CFC, FAO, GIZ, IFAD, OFID, USAID World Bank and bilateral funding from governments of China, Egypt, GCC countries, Iran, India and Morocco. Dr. Nangia has published over 300 publications including over 120 peer reviewed scientific articles in high impact journals and 40 book chapter/conference proceedings. Over the years, he has trained more than 50 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and visiting scientists from all over the world. He is recipient of several scientific awards and honours. He serves on FAO WASAG, UNCCD IWG on Drought, UNFCCC focal point for ICARDA and other high-level expert bodies. Dr. Nangia is an advisory board member of GIWEH (a Geneva-based water think tank).
Prof. Jose Luis Araus Ortega
University of Barcelona, Spain;
Professor of Plant Physiology at the University of Barcelona (from 1993 to date). Research expertise in the effects of abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity on growth and yield of crop species and the development and implementation of phenotyping approaches. Sabbaticals at the University of Georgia (Athens, USA), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria), and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA, Dubai, UAE). Principal Investigator on several international projects and contracts and co-author of more than 300 publications in SCI and SSCI journals, with an h index of 94 (Google Scholar) and 75 (WoS), more than 32,000 citations (Google Scholar), and 28 doctoral theses supervised. In 2008 I was awarded with the Friendship Award of the People's Republic of China. I have contributed extensively as an evaluator for numerous international and national research evaluation agencies and on a wide range of scientific journals in the field of Crop Physiology and Agriculture. I am one of 11 researchers associated with the UB who appeared on the list of the world's most influential scientists, published by Clarivate Analytics in 2022 (placed in “Cross-Field category”). https://www.ub.edu/web/ub/en/menu_eines/noticies/2022/11/032.html
Prof. Edward Barrett-Lennard
Professor at Murdoch University, Australia;
Prof Ed Barrett-Lennard is a Professorial Fellow at Murdoch University in Western Australia and Senior Principal Soil Scientist in the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) of Western Australia. His research interests lie in practical agriculture at the intersection between agronomy, soil science and ecophysiology. For more than 40 years Ed has been a passionate researcher and advocate of the need to develop farming systems in response to landscape salinization, waterlogging, sodicity and climate change. Ed’s international work has been supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). He has worked in Australia (since 1982), Pakistan in a range of projects since 1986, Iraq (2011–13), Bangladesh and India (2016–present) and Vietnam (2016-present).
Prof. Ragab Ragab
UK Centre for Hydrology (UK CEH) Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB , United Kingdom, President of the International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage, ICID (2020-2023);
Dr. Ragab obtained his BSc. in Soil and Water Sciences (1970), MSc. in Irrigation (1974), and Ph.D, in Rural Engineering from the University of Leuven, Belgium (1982). Presently, he is serving as a Fellow Principal Hydrologist and Water Resources Management Specialist at UK Centre for Hydrology, Wallingford. As an editor at the Journal of Agricultural Science, he contributes to Cambridge University Press (2013-present). He is also serving as an Adjunct Professor at Soil and Water Sciences Dept., the University of Alexandria, Egypt since 2006.
He has more than 40 years of experience in irrigation, drainage, catchments hydrology, remote sensing application in hydrology, integrated water management, climate change impact on water resources, soil-water-plant- atmosphere relations, rainfall harvesting, use of poor-quality water (saline/brackish, treated wastewater) for crop production, organic farming and urban hydrology.
Dr. Ragab is also associated with many professional organizations which include: British Society of Soil Science Society, Irrigants Europe - IE, and European Soil and Land Use Management. He has contributed over 130 peer-reviewed publications, excluding reports, and developed models like IHMS, SALTMED 2019, and HYDROMED and has also received global awards and recognitions for his commendable work in the irrigation and drainage sector, including Egypt State Recognition and Merit Award for Scientific Achievements, The Baron’s 500: Leaders for the New Century, ICID Award of Excellence (2002, 2012, 2013, 2014) and Best Paper Award 2018.
Dr. Ragab has actively contributed to the ICID activities as the Vice President of ICID from 2010-2013 and has also served as the Chairman of the British National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID-UK) (2007- 2011) and headed many ICID working groups.
Prof. Katarzyna Negacz
Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), Netherlands;
Dr. Katarzyna (Kate) Negacz is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) working on governance for food systems and biodiversity. Her research focuses on non-state and sub-national actors in the global biodiversity governance and the potential of saline degraded lands for sustainable food production. Dr. Negacz leads a number of international projects including FOSC Eranet SALAD and SUSTAIN COST Action.
Prof. Rachid Serraj
Director of Strategy & Africa Initiative at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco;
Director of Strategy & Africa Initiative at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. Prior to his current position, Dr. Serraj was Senior Project Officer, Delivery Manager for the Regional Initiative on Small Scale Family Farming, Regional Office in Near East and North Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Egypt. From 2010 to 2012 he was Director of Diversification & Sustainable Intensification of Production Systems (DSIPS) at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). Dr. Serraj has an extensive experience in research and development and occupied several positions in various international research centres and organizations such as IRRI, IAEA, ICRISAT. He holds a PhD in plant physiology from Montpelier University, France in 1987. He is author of more than 250 publications.
Dr. Mina Devkota
Senior Scientist (Agronomist) at the International Center for Agriculture Research for Dry Areas (ICARDA), Morocco;
Mina Devkota is Senior Scientist (Agronomist) at the International Center for Agriculture Research for Dry Areas (ICARDA), based in Morocco. She has more than seventeen years of research and development experience in the field of soil and agronomy with a major focus on Resilient farming system intensification, crop diversification, conservation agriculture-based soil and crop management from different parts of the world (South and Central Asia, North Africa, and MENA region). Dr. Devkota has published over 100 scientific articles in high impact journals.
Dr. Didier Bazile
CIRAD, UMR SENS, F-34398 Montpellier, France, UMR SENS, CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Paul Valery Montpellier 3, Univ. Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France;
An agronomist graduate from France, Dr. Didier is an active researcher in agroecology at CIRAD. After his M.Sc. in Agronomy with a specialization in ecology in 1992, he received a Ph.D. in Rural Geography from Toulouse University in 1998. He works on natural resources management for biodiversity conservation accompanying farmers' practices for maintaining in situ conservation of landraces. After different international work experiences for the European Union in Mali and Burkina Faso, and the World Bank Group in Madagascar, Didier joined CIRAD in 2001 as Principal Scientist. From 2028 to 2012, he spent 4 years in the Andes for characterizing the quinoa's biodiversity in Chile. Considering his high involvement during the International Year of Quinoa in 2013, he has been invited to FAO-HQ to serve as visiting expert and quinoa international focal point for giving technical assistance to new quinoa experimenters. For the period 2016-2019, he was nominated CIRAD Regional Director for the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Balkans regions.
Dr. Shabbir A Shahid
Research Scientist, Desert Agriculture and Ecosystems Program, Environment & Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
P.O. Box 24885 Safat, 13109 Kuwait;
Shabbir Ahmad Shahid was embraced with presti¬gious Sir William Roberts award to pursue PhD degree in Soil Science specialization in Salt-affected Soils at the University of Bangor, Wales, UK, completed in 1989. He has over 44 years’ experience as a Soil Scientist in Pakistan, the UK, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. His last job was at Dubai based International Center for Biosaline Agriculture as Senior Salinity Management Scientist and Senior Fellow (2004-2018). Currently, Dr. Shahid is a Research Scientist at Food Security Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Center of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. He led several projects in natural resources assessment and management. He was a tech¬nical coordinator in multi-million-dollar national soil surveys of the State of Kuwait and Abu Dhabi Emirate and developed the soil survey action plan for the Northern Emirates of UAE and the Republic of Mauritania. Currently Dr. Shahid is leading a national salinity project “Farm Land Salinity Risk Assessment to Develop a Management Strategy for Food Security of Kuwait” funded by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, to be conclude in March 2026. Dr. Shahid’s discovery of anhydrite rich soil is formally added in the US Keys to Soil Taxonomy as a subsurface diagnostic horizon, mineralogy class and subgroups in the Salids suborder of the order Aridisols. He is also the principal author of United Arab Emirates Keys to Soil Taxonomy and Kuwait Soil Taxonomy books published by Springer in the years 2014 and 2022, respectively. In addition, Dr. Shahid is a creator and co-founder of the Emirates Soil Museum hosted at ICBA Dubai, UAE. He is a prolific author of over 225 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, book chapters, conference proceedings, and newslet¬ters. He published nine books through professional publisher Springer. In 2023, he co-edited a book “Terrestrial Environment and Ecosystems of Kuwait” published by Springer. Dr. Shahid presented key-notes at several international salinity conferences.
Dr. Krishna Devkota
Senior Scientist at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Morocco;
Dr. Krishna Devkota is a distinguished agronomist with over 20 years of experience in agricultural science across different countries of Africa and Asia. Currently, he is a Senior Scientist at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), where he leads research on dryland farming, sustainable intensification, and climate-smart agricultural practices.
His expertise spans ecological intensification, resilient agri-food systems, biosaline agriculture, and climate-smart technologies, among other areas. Dr. Devkota holds a PhD in Agriculture (Agronomy) from the University of Bonn, Germany where he focused on the sustainability of conservation-based rice-wheat cropping systems in Central Asia.
He has extensive experience in leading international research projects aimed at improving agricultural productivity and sustainability, particularly in dryland and saline environments. His recent work involves decomposing yield gaps and enhance crop management using experimental and modeling approaches in challenging regions. Dr. Devkota is a prolific author, with over 70 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, focusing on topics such as crop diversification, sustainable intensification, and agronomic modeling. His work has garnered international recognition, contributing to global efforts in food security and environmental sustainability.
More detail can be found here:
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2179-8395
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2zCNgdsAAAAJ&hl=en
Dr. José Antonio Hernández
Senior Researcher from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the Research Institute “Centre for Soil Science and Applied Biology of Segura (CEBAS) in Murcia, Spain;
Dr. José Antonio Hernández is Senior Researcher from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the Research Institute “Centre for Soil Science and Applied Biology of Segura (CEBAS) in Murcia (Spain), and external teacher from Plant Physiology on the Catholic University San Antonio from Murcia (UCAM, Spain). Much of my scientific career has been dedicated to studying the response of plants to salinity. During my PhD period, I worked on the effect of salt stress on antioxidant and ROS (reactive oxygen species) metabolism at subcellular level. We concluded, for the first time, that ROS were involved in the damage caused by salinity at subcellular level. After my postdoctoral stays, I continued working on the involvement of ROS in the effect of salinity on the activity and the expression of the ASC-GSH cycle enzymes and SOD isoenzymes. Then, I started a new research line related to the “Physiological and Biochemical Bases of the Response to biotic stress in Prunus sp”. More specifically, I studied, for the first time, the effect of Plum Pox Virus (PPV) infection in the response of the antioxidant systems in apricot and peach plants at subcellular level. In addition, we studied the effect of PPV infection on the protein expression using proteomic techniques. In parallel, we studied the role of redox metabolism on seed germination. We reported that H2O2 promoted germination and the early seedlings growth in a concentration-dependent manner. We observed an interaction among the redox state and hormone profile, orchestrated by H2O2, in the induction of proteins related to plant signaling and development during the early growth of pea seedlings.
Prof. Muhammad Farooq
Professor and Head of the Department of Plant Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman;
Dr. Muhammad Farooq is a Professor and Head of the Department of Plant Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. He also holds adjunct positions at the University of Western Australia and Dankook University, South Korea. Previously, he was affiliated with renowned institutions, including IRRI (Philippines), CSIRO (Australia), Hohenheim University (Germany), and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Pakistan). A recipient of prestigious fellowships from Japan, Australia, and Germany, he has earned multiple research excellence awards, including the COMSTECH Award (2016) and the Best Academician Award (2024, SQU). Recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher (2018-2021), his work focuses on crop stress responses, conservation agriculture, and biofortification. Prof. Farooq has authored 450+ research articles, 50 book chapters, and 35 edited books, amassing over 60,000 citations (H-index: 115). His innovations in sustainable agriculture have significantly impacted global food security and climate-resilient farming.
Prof. Ahmed Laamrani
Center for Remote Sensing applications, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P);
Professor Ahmed Laamrani is jointly appointed between the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Center for Remote Sensing applications at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). He obtained an MSc in Remote Sensing applied to earth sciences from the University of Quebec, Canada, and a PhD in Environmental Sciences from the University of Quebec (UQAM), Canada. He was later appointed as postdoctoral researcher at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario. In 2017, he was appointed as Research Associate and Senior Scientist at University of Guelph, department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics, leading the development of innovative methods for the assessment of soil organic carbon through thermal and hyperspectral remote sensing imagery. Dr. Laamrani’s research interests during the last five years are primarily focusing on remote sensing soil attribute and degradation detection using hyperspectral and thermal imagery acquired by manned and unmanned aircraft systems. For the last four years, as the Pi, Professor Laamrani has coordinated a major multidisciplinary research project to achieve innovative ways of saline soils and water management to improve crop productivity in asemi-Arid region in Morocco. He has published more than forty papers in refereed international journals and attended/participated to more than forty international conferences. Currently, he is appointed as Adjunct Professor at both Universities of Quebec (UQAT) and Guelph (Ontario), Canada.
Sessions
Explore more details- S1Session 1. Salinity problem: Global state of art
- S2Session 2. Salinity mapping and characterization
- S3Session 3. Crop responses to salinity and water stress
- S4Session 4. Breeding and genetic improvement of crops under marginal environments
- S5Session 5. Agricultural water management in marginal environment
- S6Session 6. Agricultural use of Soil amendment, fertilization and microbe’s association
- S7Session 7. Best cropping practices to cope with abiotic stress
- S8Session 8. Crop valorization and value chain
- S9Session 9. Food-water-energy nexus in marginal environment
- S10Session 10. Climate change and sustainability aspects
- S11Session 11. Socio-economic and policy aspects related to agriculture in saline and arid land agriculture
Day 1 |
May 20, 2025 |
13:00 (GMT+1) |
Transport of participants from Laayoune city to the conference venue (ASARI-UM6P Research center) |
14:30 |
Registration |
15:00-15:40 |
Opening ceremonyModerator: M. Mounir Messari· Welcome Address:o M. Hicham El Habti, President of University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)o M. the Wali of the region of Laayoune Sakia El Hamrao M. the President of the region Laayoune Sakia El Hamra· Opening address: by Pr. Abdelaziz Hirich, UM6P, LAFOBA3 chair |
15:40-16:40 |
Plenary session 1: cutting-edge science towards improving crop resilience to drought and salinityKeynote speech: Development and delivery of stress tolerant crops for marginal environmentsPr. Mark tester, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi ArabiaDiscussion panel:
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16:40-17:00 |
Coffee break |
17:00-18:00 |
Plenary session 2: From Lab to farmers: how to fill the gap and accelerate the adoptionKeynote speech: Agriculture in Biosaline and Marginal Environments: Lessons and new perspectives for Africa.Pr. Rachid Serraj, UM6P, MoroccoDiscussion panel:
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Day 2 |
May 21, 2025 |
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Where ? |
Room A |
Room B |
Room C |
Room D (Virtual session)Link to attend |
09:00 |
Transport of participants from Laayoune city to the conference venue (ASARI-UM6P Research center) |
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10:00-11:00 |
Session 4.1: Breeding and Genetic Improvement of Crops Under Marginal EnvironmentsSession chair: Dr. Giulia Atzori, National Research Council of Italy, ItalyKeynote speech: Exotic Halophyte Resources for Improving Quinoa.Rick Jellen, Brigham Young University in Provo, USA
· sciforum-116836: Genome Wide Association Study and Genomic Prediction for Stem Rust Resistance at The Seedling and the Adult Plant Growth Stage in Elite Spring Bread Wheat Genotypes. By Khaoula Lahrichi, University Mohammed V, Morocco· sciforum-116819: Effect of Fertilizer Amendments and Deficit Irrigation on Physiological Performance and Gene Expression of Forage Sorghum Grown Under Saline Conditions. By Maryam Gbibar, UM6P, Morocco. |
Session 1.1: Salinity Problem: Global State of Art
Session chair: Dr. Jamal Hallam, INRA, MoroccoKeynote speech: Salinity Management in Arid Environments Agriculture for Food Security.Dr. Shabbir A Shahid, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait
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Session 3.1: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water Stress
Session chair: Pr. Ahmed Bouaziz, IAV Hassan II, MoroccoKeynote speech: Effect of Saline Irrigation and Genotype on Seed Yield and Quality in Different Crop Species.Professor Jose Luis Araus Ortega, University of Barcelona, Spain
· sciforum-116749: Physiological Plasticity and Ion Homeostasis in Six Quinoa Genotypes Under Severe Salinity. By Manal Mhada, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-117362: Effect of Water Irrigation Saving on Growth and Yield of Different Vegetable Crops Grown under the Mediterranean Climate Conditions of Morocco. By Kamal Aberkani, University Mohammed I, Morocco |
Session 2.1: Salinity Mapping and CharacterizationSession moderator: Dr. Abdel Aziz Hassane Sidikou, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116744: Precise Mapping of Soil Salinity Using EM38 for Sustainable Management in Semi-Arid Regions: The Case of the Central Bahira Plain. By Houria Dakak, National Agricultural Research Institute (INRA), Morocco· sciforum-116262: A Comprehensive Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation Uses in The Mediterranean Region of Morocco: Multi-Index, Statistical, and GIS Analysis. By Ayoub Lazaar, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116753: Geochemical and Isotopic Insights into Groundwater Salinity Mechanisms in the Arid Endorheic Basin of Bahira, Morocco. By Ahmed El-Azhari, UM6P, Morocco |
11:00-11:30 |
Coffee break |
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11:30-12:30 |
Session 6.1: Agricultural Use of Soil Amendment, Fertilization and Microbe’s AssociationSession chair: Dr. Giulia Atzori, National Research Council of Italy, Italy· sciforum-116739: Biostimulant Applications Improve Durum Wheat Yield, and Soil Health Under Drought Conditions. By Chayma Ikan, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco· sciforum-116745: Optimizing Maize Performance Under Salt Stress: Unveiling the Impact of Phosphorus Forms and Insect Frass Rates on Growth, Roots, Physiology, And Nutrient Content. By Driss Touhami, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-119710: Evaluating the Efficacy of Peganum harmala and Moringa oleifera as Potential Plant Biostimulants on Crop Performance Under Saline Conditions. By Sfia Baha, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-118915: Mining Halotolerant Microbes from Desert Ecosystems: A Promising Solution to Enhance Salt Stress Tolerance. By Said Khourchi, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 2.2. Salinity Mapping and CharacterizationSession chair: Dr. Jamal Hallam, INRA, Morocco· sciforum-116269: Soil Salinity Mapping Using Directed Soil Sampling from a Hand-held Electromagnetic Sensor (EM38-MK2), Very High-resolution Multispectral Imagery (Drone and Planetscope), And Topographic Attributes in a Moroccan Semi-arid Region: Case Study at the Field Scale. By Joyce Chindong, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-114999: Machine Learning and Remote Sensing for Soil Salinity Assessment in Tadla Plain in Morocco. By Hamza Ait-Ichou, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco· sciforum-113790: Mapping and Assessment of Salt-affected Soils Using Remote Sensing Indicators for Sustainable Management in Arid Lands: A Case Study from The National Parc of Khnifiss in Southwestern Morocco. Najat Sarkouh, University Mohamed V, Morocco |
Session 10.1: Climate Change and Sustainability AspectsSession chair: Pr. Ahmed Bouaziz, IAV Hassan II, Morocco· sciforum-116677: Enhancing Weed Suppression and Biomass Productivity through Cereal-Forage Legume Mixtures under Conservation Agriculture in Morocco's dry land. By El Hocine Hirich, INRA, Morocco· sciforum-116405: Relevance of Crop Modelling in Assessing Climate Change Impact on UAE Agricultural Systems and Irrigation Management. By Achraf Mamassi, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, UAE· sciforum-114881: Subsurface Irrigation: An Innovative Solution to Improve Water Productivity and Limit the Phenomenon of Salinization in Arid and Semi-Arid Climates. By Bouazzama Bassou, INRA, Morocco |
Session 3.2: Crop Responses to Salinity And Water StressSession moderator: Dr. Abdel Aziz Hassane Sidikou, UM6P, MoroccoKeynote speech: Effect of Halophyte-based Crop Managements in Physiological, Biochemical and Metabolomic Responses of Tomato Plants Under Moderately Saline Conditions.Dr. José Antonio Hernández, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain
· sciforum-118623: Salinity Stress Tolerance of Oilseed Cultivars at the Germination Stage. By Mansure Bayram, Tarbiat modares university, Iran· sciforum-115539: Comparison of Yield and Fodder Quality of Six Genotypes of Quinoa in Different Stages of Harvesting and Irrigation with Saline Water. By Mohammad Kafi, Ferdowsi University, Iran· sciforum-116932: Water Relations and Growth Response of Phillyrea angustifolia Plants to Deficit and Saline Irrigation Strategies. By Sara Álvarez, Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León, Spain |
12:30-13:30 |
Session 6.2: Agricultural Use of Soil Amendment, Fertilization and Microbe’s AssociationSession chair: Pr. Redouane Choukr-Allah, IAV Hassan II, MoroccoKeynote speech: Harnessing the Power of Soils and Plants to Provide Solutions for a Sustainable Planet.Professor Hirt Heribert, KAUST, Saudi Arabia
· sciforum-116518: Soil Properties and Bacterial Community Structure Associated with Four Desert Plant Species from Southern Morocco. By Hafsa Debbagh-Nour, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116783: Optimizing Blue Panicgrass Productivity in Phosphate Mining Tailings: Effective Strategies and Approaches. By Anass Bourazza, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 2.3: Salinity Mapping and CharacterizationSession chair: Pr. Kamal Aberkani, University Mohammed I, MoroccoKeynote speech: Mapping and Monitoring Soil Salinity in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Using Advanced Remote Sensing Technology and AI.Ahmed Laamrani, UM6P, Morocco
· sciforum-122573: High-Resolution Soil Salinity Mapping and Zone-Based Specific Management Using ground and Proximal Sensing Data. By Jamal-Eddine Ouzemou, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116850: Spatial Distribution of Boron in the Foum El Oued Aquifer, Province of Laayoune, Morocco. By Abderrazak Errich, Mohammed V University, Morocco |
Session 1.2: Salinity Problem: Global State of ArtSession chair: Pr. Joann K. Whalen, UM6P, MoroccoKeynote speech: Living with Salinity: Getting the Right Plant into the Right Place in Saline Landscapes.Professor Edward Barrett-Lennard, Murdoch University, Australia
· sciforum-115886: Assessment of Water and Soil Salinity Stress in Moroccan Oases: A Survey-Based Approach. By Ilham Zaidali, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-114220: Phosphogypsum Valorization Prospects for Saline Soil Amelioration and Revegetation of Desert Lands. By Dennis Shibonje Ashilenje, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 3.3: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water StressSession moderator: Dr. Fatima Zahra Briache, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-114191: Adaptive Mechanisms and Bioactive Properties of Salicornia europaea L. Under Native and Cultivated Conditions in Qatar: A Comparative Study. By Elsayed Mohamed Elazazi, Ministry of Municipality, Qatar· sciforum-117665: Environmental Modulation of Quinoa Seed Nutritional Quality: A Molecular Perspective. By Maria Reguera, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain· sciforum-116993: Impact of Salinity on Germination and Seedling Development in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Accessions from Arid Regions of Tunisia. By Tebra Triki Triki, IRA Medenine, Tunisia· sciforum-108664: Saline Water Irrigation Management Through Electromagnetic Treatment: Effect on Soil and Potatoes. By Rawaa Akrimi, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid (CRRA), Tunisia |
13:30-14:30 |
Lunch break |
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14:30-15:30 |
Session 5.1: Agricultural Water Management in Marginal EnvironmentSession chair: Pr. Redouane Choukr-Allah, IAV Hassan II, MoroccoKeynote speech: Accurate Estimation of Crop Water Requirement Using New Technology.Professor Ragab Ragab, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UKCEH, UK and President H. International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, ICID
· sciforum-110365: Using AI for Optimizing Irrigation in Salt-Affected and Arid Lands. By Souad El Hajjaji, Mohammed V University, Morocco· sciforum-117810: Enhancing Tomato Yield in Greenhouse Conditions: Biochar's Role in Improving Morpho-Physiological Traits and Water Productivity under Deficit Irrigation. By Abdulrasoul Alomran, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia |
Session 10.2: Climate Change and Sustainability AspectsSession chair: Pr. Kamal Aberkani, University Mohammed I, MoroccoKeynote speech: sciforum-117954: Upscaling Saline Nature-based Solutions in Times of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss.Professor Katarzyna Negacz, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
· sciforum-116837: Salt-tolerant Crops as Sustainable Feed: Assessing Nutritional Value and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Ruminants. By Ihssane Mnaouer, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-117216: Sustainable Greenhouse Cooling Systems in Morocco: Comparative Assessment of Earth-to-Air Heat Exchangers and Rock-Bed Systems for Microclimate Optimization and Yield Enhancement. By Fatima Ezzahra Allali, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco |
Session 7.1: Best Cropping Practices to Cope with Abiotic StressSession chair: Pr. Irfan Afzal, UM6P, MoroccoKeynote speech: Quinoa Biodiversity, Agricultural Practices, and Nutritional Profile Variability Under Stress Conditions.Dr. Didier Bazile, CIRAD, France
· sciforum-116648: Effect of Soil Amendments and Biostimulants Application on alleviating Salinity Stress in Quinoa plants under Greenhouse Conditions. By Mohammad Redouane Bourhim, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco· sciforum-116675: Unlocking Climate Adaptation Potential Tepary Beans (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) Through Breeding. By Karima Lazaar, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 6.3: Agricultural Use of Soil Amendment, Fertilization and Microbe’s AssociationSession moderator: Dr. Fatima Zahra Briache, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116750: Optimization of Nitrogen Fertilization for Sustainable Water and Soil Management Using Agronomic Experimentation and Statistical Analyses. By Houria Dakak, INRA, Morocco· sciforum-116800: Using Microbial Biotechnology to Improve Salt Tolerance in Alfalfa. By Raja Ben-Laouane, Moulay Ismail University, Morocco· sciforum-119555: Bacterial Communities in Quinoa: Environmental and Genetic Factors Shaping Endophytic and Rhizosphere Composition. By Isaac Maestro-Gaitán, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain· sciforum-116838: Salinity Legacy Effects on Soil Microbial Physiology and Community Composition. By Bas Bruning, SALT doctors, Netherlands |
15:30-16:30 |
Session 6.4: Agricultural Use of Soil Amendment, Fertilization and Microbe’s AssociationSession chair: Pr. Dennis Ashilenje, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116757: Organic Amendments to Restore Sandy Soils to Produce Organic Vegetables Under Arid Conditions. By Khalid Azim, INRA, Morocco· sciforum-116846: Combined Effect of Irrigation Regimes and NPK Fertilizer Rates on Soil Health and Maize Performance in Marginal Lands. By Mbarek El-Guirah, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116853: Impact of Integrated Use of Mineral Fertilizers, Compost and Irrigation with Treated Wastewater on Crop Yield and Nutrition in Arid Soil. By Khaled D. Alotaibi, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia· sciforum-115928: Optimizing Tomato Resilience to Salt Stress Using Compost, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Their Synergistic Effects. By Fadoua Mekkaoui, Hassan II University, Morocco |
Session 3.4: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water StressSession chair: Pr. Berhanu Amsalu Fenta, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116997: Salt-Induced Nutritional Modifications in Salt Tolerant Crops and Halophytes. By Giulia Atzori, National Research Council of Italy, Italy· sciforum-118000: Influence of Natural Salinity in Arid Regions on Endophytic Contamination in Date Palm In Vitro Culture. By Mohamed Laaguidi, Moulay Ismail University Meknes, Morocco· sciforum-116815: Phenotyping of Barley Germplasms Under Saline Conditions. By Maryam Gbibar, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116637: Harnessing Synergies Between Biostimulants and Organic Amendments to Mitigate Drought in Quinoa Varieties (Chenopodium quinoa) Cultivated Under Field Conditions. By Salma Toubali, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 2.4. Salinity Mapping and CharacterizationSession chair: Dr. Krishna Devkota, ICARDA, Morocco· sciforum-118052: Cartographie Prédictive De La Conductivité Électrique Du Sol Comme Indicateur De La Salinité Du Sol Dans La Zone De Brakna, Mauritanie. By Mohamed Mahmoud Mohamed Abidine, Université de Nouakchott, Mauritania· sciforum-116267: Use of Multispectral Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery, Topography and Post-rainfall Multispectral Proxies Derived from Planetscope Imagery to Generate the First Accurate Soil Salinity Map in the Semi-arid Region of Sehb El Masjoune, Southern Morocco. By Jamal-Eddine Ouzemou, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-118734: Unveiling Halotolerant Bacteria in Ecosystems of Southern Morocco Holds Potential for Sustainable Agriculture. By Bulbul Ahmed, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 5.2: Agricultural Water Management in Marginal EnvironmentSession moderator: Dr. Said Khourchi, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-119421: Diagnosis of the Upstream Carob Sector in Morocco for Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change. By Hafida Zaher, National Forestry School of Engineers, Morocco· sciforum-116857: Wastewater Treatment and Sustainability in Irrigation: Evaluating the Performance of the Skhirat Wastewater Treatment Plant for Agricultural Reuse. By Naima Lahlouhi, Mohammed VI University, Morocco· sciforum-107293: Impact of Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) On Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) Nuts Quality. By Walid Abidi, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia· sciforum-116856: Assessing the Impact of Policies on the Water-energy-food-climate Nexus in the Souss-massa Basin: An Integrated Approach Using System Dynamics. By Ayoub Guemouria, UM6P, Morocco |
16:30-16:45 |
Coffee break |
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16:45-17:30 |
Poster session (evaluation of posters, all presenters should be close to their poster to present them to the evaluation committee) |
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17:30 |
Transport of participants from the conference venue (ASARI-UM6P Research center) to Laayoune City |
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19:30 |
Transport of invited participants from Laayoune city to Gala dinner (Desert Al Massira Bivouac) |
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20:30 |
Gala Dinner |
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Day 3 |
May 22, 2025 |
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Where ? |
Room A |
Room B |
Room C |
Room D (Virtual session) |
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09:00 |
Transport of participants from Laayoune City to the conference venue (ASARI-UM6P Research center) |
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10:00-11:00 |
Session 4.2: Breeding and Genetic Improvement of Crops Under Marginal EnvironmentsSession chair: Dr. Shabbir A Shahid, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), KuwaitKeynote speech: Climate-Smart Plant Breeding: Leveraging Nuclear Techniques and Innovative Approaches for Marginal Environments.Fatma Sarsu, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Austria· sciforum-124555: Understanding the Interaction of Above and Below Ground Traits in Faba Bean Under Different Water Regimes: a field study. By Zeineb Dagdad, ICARDA, Morocco· sciforum-109617: Differential Expression of CmTCP15 and CmGDSL in Non-Climacteric Melon during Ripening. By Mohamed Zarid, Université Ibn Tofail, Morocco· sciforum-115608: Chromosome-level Genome Assembly and Functional Annotation of Argania spinosa. By Slimane khayi, INRA, Morocco |
Session 6.5: Agricultural Use of Soil Amendment, Fertilization and Microbe’s AssociationSession chair: Dr. Khalid Azim, INRA, Morocco· sciforum-108188: Enhancing Soil Amendment and Boosting the Morphological, Physiological, and Agronomic Performance of Sweet Basil Through Compost Application. By Majda Oueld Lhaj, University Hassan II, Morocco· sciforum-115810: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Compost Promoting Effects on Argan Seedlings Performances Under Drought Stress. By Boujemaa Fassih, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco· sciforum-115241: Microbial Solutions for Resilient Agriculture: Exploring the Diversity and Functional Roles of Bacteria in Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana under Salinity and Drought Stress. By Mohamed Hnini, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco· sciforum-119230: Profiling and Functional Characterization of Microbes from the Grara Ecosystem. By Olabode Charles Samuel, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 3.5: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water StressSession chair: Pr. Abdelaziz Nilahyane, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116792: Effect of Salt Stress on Multiple Grass Species: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. By Abdel Aziz Hassane Sidikou, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116716: Root Development Response to Water Scarcity in Moroccan Barley Landraces: Field Auger Method. By Rajae Mesbahi, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-112897: Integrated Effect of Saline Water Irrigation and Phosphorus Fertilization Practices on Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Growth, Productivity, Nutrient Content and Soil Proprieties Under Dryland Farming. By Hamza Bouras, INRA, Morocco |
Session 10.3: Climate Change and Sustainability AspectsSession moderator: Dr. Said Khourchi, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-106563: Adapting Agriculture in North Africa: Mitigating Climate Change Impacts and Enhancing Resilience. By Azdem Driss, Mohammed V University, Morocco· sciforum-112866: Role of Microalgae in Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation. By Khadija El Moustaqim, Ibn Tofaïl University, Morocco· sciforum-116231: Evaluation of the Risk of Non-datedness of Quercus suber L. in Morocco. By Fatima Ezzahra Assemar, Mohammed V University, Morocco· sciforum-112204: Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Productivity Growth and Its Policy Implication for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in Ethiopia. By Kusse Haile, Mizan Tepi University, Ethiopia |
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11:00-11:30 |
Coffee break |
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11:30-12:30 |
Session 2.5. Salinity Mapping and CharacterizationSession chair: Dr. Shabbir A Shahid, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait· sciforum-116266: Integration of PRISMA Hyperspectral Imagery Derived-information With Optimal Machine Learning Techniques to Produce Soil Salinity and Sodicity Maps with a Higher Degree of Accuracy: Study Case of Sehb El Masjoune, A Moroccan Semi-Arid Agricultural Region. By Jamal-Eddine Ouzemou, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116851: Key Soil Property Assessment Using Very High-Resolution Remotely Sensed Data for Precise Fertilizer Strategies and Soil Regeneration in Saline - Arid Regions. By Dennis Shibonje Ashilenje, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-107354: Dynamic Large-scale Mapping Approach of Soil Salinity Using Soil Formation Factors and Hydrological Indices in Pedological and Non-pedological Regions. By Jamal Hallam, INRA, Morocco· sciforum-116662: Monitoring of Soil Salinity Using 3D Feature Space Models and Machine Learning Algorithms: A Case Study of Sehb El Msjoune Semi-Arid and Arid Area, Morocco. By Aiman Achemrk, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 10.4: Climate Change and Sustainability AspectsSession chair: Dr. Khalid Azim, INRA, Morocco· sciforum-116599: Effect of Feeding Different Forage Grasses Grown in Saline Soil on Fattening Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality and Economic Analysis of Awassi Sheep in Qatar State. By Abubakr Sayed Ali, Ministry of Municipality, Qatar· sciforum-113191: Applying Remote Sensing and Reanalyzed Data to Study Precipitation Variability in Semi-Arid Agrarian area in North Africa. By Younes Dahhane, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-114954: Valorization of Vachellia tortilis subsp. Raddiana: A Sustainable Approach to Climate Change Challenges. By Brahim Alayoua, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco· sciforum-116888: Assessing Soil Loss and Erosion Risk in Semi-Arid Watershed: Current and Future Projections. By Houda Lamane, Hassan II University, Morocco |
Session 3.6: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water StressSession chair: Pr. Abdelaziz Nilahyane, UM6P, MoroccoKeynote speech: Climate Resilient Strategies for Sustainable Crop Production in Arid EnvironmentsProfessor Muhammad Farooq, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
· sciforum-117874: Investigating the Impact of Increasing Saline Irrigation on Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pallas) Kuntz. Grown on Different Soil Types. By Giulia Atzori, National Research Council of Italy, Italy· sciforum-116339: Emerging Olive Cultivars for SHD Orchards Under Salt Stress: Comparing Lecciana, Coriana, and Siquitita with Commercial Standards. By José Casanova-Gascón, University of Zaragoza, Spain
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Session 6.6: Agricultural Use of Soil Amendment, Fertilization and Microbe’s AssociationSession moderator: Dr. Abdel Aziz Hassane Sidikou, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116830: Assessment of Tenebrio molitor Protein Hydrolysates as biostimulants: Enhancing Tomato Growth. By Fatima Tayi, MAScIR/UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116875: Soil Fertility and Heavy Metal Risk Assessment Under Sewage Sludge Amendment. By Achkir Abdelmajid, Mohammed V University, Morocco· sciforum-116825: A Case Study on the Role of Biofertilizers in Reducing Synthetic Fertilizer Dependency in Arid Irrigated Agriculture System. By Samar Attaher, ICARDA, Egypt· sciforum-116762: Soil Fertility and Heavy Metal Risk Assessment Under Sewage Sludge Amendment. By Achkir Abdelmajid, Mohammed V University, Morocco |
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12:30-13:30 |
Session 7.2: Best Cropping Practices to Cope with Abiotic StressSession chair: Pr. Ahmed Laamrani, UM6P, Morocco
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Session 5.3: Agricultural Water Management in Marginal EnvironmentSession chair: Pr. Jose Luis Araus Ortega, University of Barcelona, SpainKeynote speech: Water for Food, Water for Life: The Drylands ChallengesProf. Vinay Nangia, ICARDA
· sciforum-116639: Theoretical Optimization of Polymer-Organic Pollutant Interactions for Wastewater Treatment. By Taoufik Gourti, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco.· sciforum-106302: Calibration of Soil Moisture Sensors (ECH2O-5TE) in Hot and Saline Soils with New Empirical Equation. By Abdulrasoul Alomran, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia· sciforum-116312: Dessalement Des Eaux Saumâtres Par Procédé Électromagnétique Une Alternative Prometteuse Pour La Production D'eau Pour L'irrigation. By Abdelbast Karbal, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Morocco
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Session 3.7: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water StressSession chair: Dr. Didier Bazile, CIRAD, France· sciforum-116774: Potential lipid biomarkers of drought tolerance in contrasted Argania spinosa L. ecotypes. By Karim Rabeh, INRA, Morocco· sciforum-116861: Biometric Parameters of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Vitroplants and Properties of the Soil Treated with Biofertilizers/Biostimulants Evolved Post Five Years of Field Drought. By Fatima-Zahra Akensous, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco· sciforum-116337: Salt Stress in Next-Generation Grapevine Rootstocks: M-series versus Commercial Standards. By José Casanova-Gascón, University of Zaragoza, Spain· sciforum-116759: Organic Amendments to Mitigate Saline Water Stress on Organic Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in an Arid Climate. By Khalid Azim, INRA, Morocco |
Session moderator: Dr. Abdel Aziz Hassane Sidikou, UM6P, MoroccoSession 8: Crop Valorization and Value ChainKeynote speech: sciforum-116818: Salt marsh gastronomy in the United Arab Emirates: seAing (and eating) is believingDr. Dionysia Lyra, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, UAESession 9: Food-water-energy nexus in marginal environment· sciforum-110368: Advancements in Biosensors and Artificial Intelligence for Detecting Food Contaminants: Ensuring Global Food Safety and Sustainability. By Rabab Allili, Mohammed V University, MoroccoSession 11.1: Socio-economic And Policy Aspects Related to Agriculture in Saline and Arid Land Agriculture· sciforum-117938: Changing Demographics in Arid Farms: How the Legacy Institutional Arrangements Need to be Reconfigured?. By Aneela Afzal, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan· sciforum-116943: Surveying Resilience: Agricultural Strategies Against Salinization in Southern Tunisia. By Sihem Ben Ali, Arid Land Institute of Medenine, Tunisia |
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13:30-14:30 |
Lunch break |
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14:30-15:30 |
Session 3.8: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water StressSession chair: Pr. Ahmed Laamrani, UM6P, MoroccoKeynote speech: Crop Suitability Under Open-Field and Protected Farming Systems in Arid Drylands using APSIM and AquaCrop ModelsDr. Krishna Devkota, ICARDA, Morocco
· sciforum-115124: Enhancing Salinity Tolerance of Cash Crop Halophytes through Redox Seed Priming: Effectiveness and Mechanistic Insights for Saline Agriculture. By Abdul Hameed, University of Karachi, Pakistan· sciforum-114437: Seasonal and Diurnal Fluctuations in the Metabolome of Haloxylon Salicornicum in a Desert Environment. By Hasna Ezzine, KAUST, Saudi Arabia· sciforum-116335: Self-Rooted Hazelnut Cultivars Under Salt Stress: A Multi-Parameter Assessment of Tolerance Mechanisms and Adaptation. By Xavier Rius Garcia, University of Zaragoza, Spain |
Session 11.2: Socio-economic and Policy Aspects Related to Agriculture in Saline and Arid Land AgricultureSession chair: Pr. Jose Luis Araus Ortega, University of Barcelona, Spain· sciforum-116814: Navigating Farmers Perceptions and Adaptive Strategies to Water Salinity and Scarcity in Morocco: In Depth Socio-economic Interview Analysis. By Amina Bouymajjane, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116233: Application of Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) in Plant Analysis for Nutritional Assessment and Environmental Hazard Evaluation in Tropical Regions. By Meryem El Mellouki, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 6.7: Agricultural Use of Soil Amendment, Fertilization and Microbe’s AssociationSession chair: Dr. Didier Bazile, CIRAD, France· sciforum-116824: Impact of Irrigation and Fertilizers on Forage Sorghum Production under Saline Conditions. By Maryam Gbibar, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116852: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Modify the Content of Phenolic Compounds, Osmolytes and Stress Markers in Quinoa Seeds Under Water Stress. By Wissal Benaffari, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco· sciforum-116063: Berseem Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) Averts Surface Salinization of an Alkaline Soil to Enhance Root Associated Phosphorus Availability. By Zineb Imkis, UM6P, Morocco |
Session 7.3: Best Cropping Practices to Cope with Abiotic StressSession moderator: Dr. Fatima Zahra Briache, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-108385: Selenium-Mediated Enhancement of Growth and Salt Stress Tolerance in Open-Field Cultivated Tomatoes. By Fedi Hajlaoui, Regional Centre of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia· sciforum-116870: Effect of Bio-fertilization And Pedo-climatic Conditions on Chickpea Nodulation, Grain Yields, And Seed Protein in a Mediterranean Context: A Meta-analysis Approach. By Amira Hachana, Carthage University, Tunisia· sciforum-116404: Importance of Faba Bean Intercropping Practices in Almond Orchard Under Moroccan Climate Conditions. By Oussama Moussaoui, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Morocco· sciforum-116799: Enhancing Rosa damascena Cultivation Through Grafting on Rosa indica Major Rootstocks: A Strategy for Improved Growth, Yield, and Quality Under Semi-Arid and Saline Conditions. Soumia EL Malahi, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco |
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15:30-16:30 |
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Session 3.9: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water StressSession chair: Pr. Dennis Ashilenje, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-106570: Exploring the Viability of Coastal Sabkha Soils for Halophytic Crop Production: A Case Study from the Red Sea Coast of Saudi Arabia. By Rebekah Waller, KAUST, Saudi Arabia· sciforum-114156: How does blue panicgrass (Panicum antidotale Retz.) respond to salinity stress?. By Ayoub El Mouttaqi, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116336: Salt Stress in Self-Rooted Almonds: A Comprehensive Analysis for Next-Generation High-Density Orchards. By Xavier Rius Garcia, University of Zaragoza, Spain· sciforum-116761: Enhancing Wheat Drought Tolerance and Soil Fertility through the Synergistic Application of Controlled-Release Vitreous Fertilizer and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. By Nizar El Mazouni, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco |
Session 7.4: Best Cropping Practices to Cope with Abiotic StressSession chair: Pr. Irfan Afzal, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-118534: Optimizing the Germination and Cultivation of Edible Salt-tolerant Plants for Sustainable Saline Agriculture. By Luísa Custódio, University of Algarve, Portugal· sciforum-118833: Intercropping with Faba Bean Improves Mineral Nutrition, Growth, And Yield of Wheat Under the Combined Stress of Drought and Phosphorus Limitation. By Cherki Ghoulam, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-120465: Exploring the Potential Effect of Red Algae (Gelidium sesquipedale) Extract as a Biostimulant on Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) Growth and Development. By Chaimae Rami, UM6P, Morocco· sciforum-116575: Chitosan Based Seed Coatings Effect on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Plant Growth. By Mohamed Saou, UM6P, Morocco |
Session moderator: Dr. Fatima Zahra Briache, UM6P, MoroccoSession 1.3: Salinity Problem: Global State of Art· sciforum-118595: Groundwater Salinization in Morocco: Origins, Processes, and Impacts. By Lhoussaine Bouchaou, Ibn Zohr University, MoroccoSession 3.10: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water Stress· sciforum-110654: Impact of Water Stress and Foliar Boron Spraying (B) On the Agro-physiological Parameters of the Olive (Olea Europea L.) Cultivar Arbequina. By Walid Abidi, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid (CRRA), Tunisia· sciforum-110080: Effects of Selenium on Tomato Growth and Water Relation in Different Salinity Level Conditions. By Rawaa Akrimi, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid (CRRA), Tunisia· sciforum-116346: Evaluating the Performance of Panicum antidotale in Saline Environments: The Role of Planting Methods and Organic Amendments. By Sanaa Malki, UM6P, Morocco |
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16:30-17:00 |
Coffee break |
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17:00-18:00 |
Closing ceremony and awards |
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Posters
Session 2: Salinity Mapping and Characterization
- sciforum-108079: Assessment of Soil Spatial Variability in Agricultural Ecosystems Using Multivariate Analysis and Geostatistical Approach: A Case Study of the Mnasra Region, Gharb Plain, Morocco. By Hatim Sanad, Hassan II University, Morocco
- sciforum-116419 Assessment of soil salinity using pXRF technique and soil -to-water extract methods in semi-arid region in Morocco. By Tarik El Moatassem, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
Session 3: Crop Responses to Salinity and Water Stress
- sciforum-107134: Sustainable Agroecological Solutions Using Salt-Tolerant Plants and Brine Irrigation in Arid Regions. By Hamza khassali, Sand to green, France
- sciforum-116655: Synergistic Impacts of Drought, Salinity, And Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) on Plant Growth and Physiology. By Chaimae Rami, UM6P, Morocco
- sciforum-116840: Morphophysiological and Biochemical Responses of Moringa oleifera to Salinity During Early Growth. By Said Labbassi, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco
- sciforum-118916: Impact of Saline Irrigation on the Growth and Yield of Durum Wheat (cv. Faraj) in Sandy and Clay Soils. By Khadija Manhou, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco
- sciforum-120652: Effect of Salinity Stress on the Growth of Sage (Salvia officinalis) in Interaction with Halophytic Plants. By Yassine Mouniane, Ibn Tofail, Morocco
- sciforum-119483: Research on Agronomic Behavior of Quinoa Cultivation in Cabo Verde. By Jacques De Pina Tavares, INIDA, Cabo Verde
- sciforum-124964: Biochar Addition to Saline-Sodic Soil Enhanced Brassica Seedling Emergence. By Unius Arinaitwe, South Dakota State University, USA
Session 4: Breeding and Genetic Improvement of Crops Under Marginal Environments
- sciforum-117988: Selecting and Inbreeding Salicornia to Develop an Oilseed crop for Arid and Saline Environments of the Middle East. By Nataliya Kovalchuk, KAUST, Saudi Arabia
- sciforum-116743: Identification of Resistance Sources to STB In Spring Bread Wheat of ICARDA Germplasm in Morocco. By Fatima zahra Mssilea, Mohammed V University, Morocco
Session 5: Agricultural Water Management in Marginal Environment
- sciforum-116681: DFT Analysis and Optimization of the Conformers of Hemi-mellitic Acid: Foundations for the Management of Organic Pollutants. By Taoufik Gourti, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco
- sciforum-123197: Individual Preferences for Non-Conventional Water Resources for Irrigation: The Case of the Seawater Desalination Plant of Chtouka Ait Baha (Southwest Morocco). By Ahmed Amghar, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco
- sciforum-123499: Evaluating Environmental Trade-Offs in Wastewater Treatment: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach. By Souad El Hajjaji, Mohammed V University, Morocco
- sciforum-125067: Valorization of Local Plants and Agricultural Waste for Sustainable Irrigation Water Treatment: A Mini-Review. By Said Meftah, Hassan First University, Settat, Morocco
- sciforum-125116: Towards Improved Water Productivity of Maize Cultivation in the Souss‑massa Region: Evaluating the FAO AquaCrop Model’s Performance in Simulating Canopy Cover, Soil Moisture, and Biomass. By Mohamed-Amine Benaly, UM6P, Morocco
Session 6: Agricultural Use of Soil Amendment, Fertilization and Microbe’s Association
- sciforum-114580: Developing a Biofertilizer Using Saprophytic Fungi and Cyanobacteria for Saline Soil Restoration in Laayoune regions. By Malak Mentagui, University Euromed of Fez, Morocco
- sciforum-116719: Effects of Physicochemical Characteristics of Two Soils on Agro-Morphological Traits of Two Chickpea Varieties (Cicer arietinum). By Sara Fahde, ICARDA, Morocco
- sciforum-116747: Pedological Effect of Soils from Different Regions in Morocco on the Performance of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Varieties in the Absence and Presence of Their Rhizobial Partner. By Sara Fahde, ICARDA, Morocco
- sciforum-116755: Resistance of Bacillus velezensis Endospores to Multiple Abiotic Stresses for Biostimulant Formulations. By Khalid Lemrhari, UM6P, Morocco
- sciforum-116765: Rhizobium-mediation for Improving Drought Tolerance in Spring Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum). By Lamyae Ed-Daoudy, Mohammed V University, Morocco
- sciforum-116785: Effect of Application Method and Concentration of Plant-based Biostimulants on the Germination and Growth of Barley and Beans Under Saline Conditions. By Sfia Baha, UM6P, Morocco
- sciforum-116801: Impact of Microbial Biostimulants on Crop Growth and Productivity Under Drought and Saline Conditions. By Hajar Salah-Eddine, UM6P, Morocco
- sciforum-116831: Unraveling Microbial Adaptation and Biocontrol Potential in Arid Ecosystems: A Genomic Approach to Sustainable Agriculture. By Omar Nejjari, UM6P, Morocco
- sciforum-116847: Potential Effect of Hydrophilic Polymer and Manure on Four Tree Species and Soil Water Retention in Desert Conditions of Southern Morocco. By Mbarek El-Guirah, UM6P, Morocco
- sciforum-123393: Environmental Impact Assessment of Using Co-composted Olive Mill Wastewater Through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). By Souad el Hajjaji, Mohammed V University, Morocco
- sciforum-110645: Study of the eFfect Of Amendments Adopted in the Agricultural Lands Surrounding the Sabkha of Sed El Mesjoune – Morocco, on Soil Quality. By Soukaina El Hasini, Mohammed V University, Morocco
Session 7: Best Cropping Practices to Cope with Abiotic Stress
- sciforum-109113: Effect of Salinity on Germination and Growth Parameters of Durum Wheat: A Case Study of the Gharb Plain, Morocco. By Khadija Manhou, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco
- sciforum-116806: Effect of Crop Rotation on Soil Health and Productivity of Irrigated Maize Under Salt-affected Soils. By Mbarek El-Guirah, UM6P, Morocco
- sciforum-116842: The Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria and Mycorrhizal Fungi in Boosting Drought Resilience in Tomatoes and Enhancing Antioxidant Metabolism and Osmolyte Accumulation. By Fatima-Ezzahra Soussani, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco
- sciforum-124876: Morocco's Current Research Status on the Application of Treated Water in Agriculture Under Conditions of Water Scarcity. By Maha Zendir, Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Hassan II, Morocco
Session 8: Crop Valorization and Value Chain
- sciforum-124244: Production of High Added Value Biofertilizers from Tomato Waste Through Composting in an Optimized Bioreactor. By Nidal Zrikam, UM6P, Morocco
Session 9: Food-water-energy Nexus in Marginal Environment
- sciforum-116718: Impact of Climate-Smart and Water-Saving Frontier Agriculture on the WEFE Nexus in Arid Mediterranean Regions. By Bouchra Darkaoui, UM6P, Morocco
Session 10: Climate Change and Sustainability Aspects
- sciforum-113571: Wheat Yield Gap Quantification in Morocco: Assessing the Impact of Precipitation, Temperature, And Soil Moisture. By Lahcen Ousayd, UM6P, Morocco
- sciforum-118612: Vachellia tortilis raddiana: A Natural Asset for Climate Change Adaptation in Arid Zones. By Brahim Alayoua, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco
Session 11: Socio-economic and Policy Aspects Related to Agriculture in Saline and Arid Land Agriculture
- sciforum-121268: Valorisation Des Plantes Halophytes Pour Lutter Contre La Dégradation Des Terres En Zones Arides Et Salines. By Lamiaa Ratib, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Settat, Morocco