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Rabat – Morocco’s fertilizer giant OCP is teaming up with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and the American agriculture-focused company Regrow to develop a measuring, reporting, and verification system (MRV) tailored to African soil.
The three parties signed an agreement today to develop a system that is based on the biogeochemical denitrification-decomposition model (DNDC)to explore the potential of soils to sequester carbon.
A statement from OCP stressed that the Denitrification-Decomposition model is globally calibrated and validated scientific model, which is also recognized by reference standards.
The OCP statement further explained that the objective of the project is also to boost its fertility, and improve equitable access to the carbon market in order to promote soil health on the continent.
“The project will provide African farmers with access to a state-of-the-art MRV… system at a competitive cost compared to conventional MRV systems,” it said, noting that this will also encourage farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices in favor of soil health and production.
With their newly signed agreement, the three parties look determined to support the sustainable transformation of agricultural systems to “feed the planet and fight climate change,” OCP’s statement said, emphasizing that the project is “only the beginning of a large collaboration between the stakeholders to promote soil health and carbon sequestration.”
Naoufal Mahdar,Vice President of Climate Action and Decarbonization at OCP, welcomed the signing of the agreement. He also renewed OCP’s commitment to supporting African farmers in implementing sustainable practices to improve soil health and contribute to food security in Africa and worldwide.
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“This project to adapt the DNDC model to African soil with UM6P and Regrow is an important step to unlock the potential of Africa in this global effort. OCP thereby affirms its commitment to African farmers, particularly the smallholder ones,” he said.
For his part, UM6P President Hicham El Habti emphasized the significance and transformative potential of the partnership, stressing the university’s satisfaction at joining forces with OCP Group and Regrow to promote “resilient, equitable and sustainable food systems in Africa.”
He concluded that “this partnership represents a firm commitment to actively participate in the fight against climate change by understanding the carbon storage capacity of African soils.”
Regrow Chief Strategy Officer William Salas also hailed the partnership and emphatically described it as crucial to the American company’s vision of impactful and transformative agriculture.
Notably, he spoke of being “pleased to be partnering with OCP, a leading agribusiness, and UM6P to positively impact farmer livelihoods.”
