During the fifteenth edition of the International Agriculture Forum in Meknes, which concluded in May 2023, a digital platform named “Carbo Edge” was unveiled for the first time, presenting its functionalities to interested parties. Developed by researchers from the “AgriTech Center of Excellence” laboratory at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Ben Guérir, this platform aims to measure and reduce the carbon footprint in the agricultural and food sectors in Morocco.
This initiative, part of the joint program titled “Carbon Elimination from Agriculture and the Food Industry,” is supervised by the “AgriEdge” unit of UM6P University and the “ProAgro” project of the International Labour Organization (ILO). “Carbo Edge” targets agricultural entrepreneurs and food industries to help them reduce their carbon footprint.
According to Mohamed Hemimo, Head of Digital Services and Data at the “Center of Excellence for Digital Agriculture and its Technologies” laboratory at Ben Guérir University, carbon elimination in Moroccan agricultural and food industries is a general trend that has been underway for several years. “Carbo Edge” is the result of a full year of research and development aimed at creating a carbon footprint calculation platform for Moroccan agricultural producers.
This application, accessible to agricultural producers and food industry actors in Morocco via the web, enables the measurement and evaluation of the carbon footprint throughout the agricultural and food production process. Using artificial intelligence technologies and satellite imaging, “Carbo Edge” supports farmers throughout their journey to reduce their productive activity that leaves harmful carbon footprints for the environment and agriculture.
This platform represents a significant advance in the field of digital agriculture in Morocco, providing producers with the means to measure, evaluate, and reduce their environmental impact while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The initiative aims to raise awareness and mobilize academic, professional, commercial, and decision-making actors around the relationship between agriculture and greenhouse gases, while exploring ways to support the transition to a low-carbon emission agriculture industry.