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Benguerir – The 37th Technical Conference of the Arab Fertilizer Association (AFA) launched today at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir, transforming the campus into a hub where science, policy, and industry converge.
Under the patronage of OCP Group, the three-day event has drawn approximately 1,000 visitors and dozens of exhibitors to tackle pressing challenges facing the fertilizer industry. It has also attracted experts from across the Arab world and beyond, with participants representing more than 40 countries.
With the theme “Emerging Technologies in the Fertilizer Industry: Balancing Productivity & Environmental Stewardship,” the conference arrives at a critical moment for global agriculture.
The numbers alone speak to the weight of the moment: FAO and IFA data show fertilizer demand rebounding from the 2022 price shock, expected to reach a record 205 million tons of nutrients (N+P₂O₅+K₂O) in 2025, up from around 190 million in 2023. Studies attribute roughly 30-50% of crop yields to commercial fertilizer inputs.
Hicham El Habti, President of UM6P, set the tone by framing the conference within the broader context of looming global challenges. “According to UN projections, by 2050, our planet must feed nearly 9.7 billion people – an increase of nearly 2 billion from today – with less arable land, less water, and under increasing pressure from climate change, which could reduce agricultural yields by 10 to 25% in certain regions,” he stated.
El Habti outlined the dual challenge facing the fertilizer sector, which already underpins half of global food production: “to feed a rapidly growing population while reducing the environmental footprint of agricultural production, particularly by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions linked to nitrogen fertilizer use.”
Moving beyond regional concerns, the UM6P president positioned Africa at the center of agricultural transformation. “Africa possesses 60% of the world’s unexploited arable land and an unparalleled youth – more than 60% of Africans are under 25 years old,” he noted.
Beyond hosting a conference, El Habti characterized UM6P as “a laboratory where industry and academia meet” to build “capacity, knowledge, and ecosystems that can anticipate crises rather than simply react to them.”
He pointed to initiatives like the African Center for Agricultural Research and Innovation (ASARI) in Laayoune, where researchers develop drought-resistant varieties and water-efficient practices tailored to arid environments.
‘Fertilizers the backbone of global food security’
Youssef El Bari, Chairman and CEO of OCP Nutricrops, reinforced Morocco’s strategic position with a stark reminder of fundamentals. “The Arab fertilizer industry holds a distinguished position on the global stage, thanks to the region’s abundance of natural resources – phosphate, natural gas, and potash – the essential building blocks of fertilizers,” he asserted.
“Fertilizers are not optional inputs; they are the backbone of global food security,” El Bari declared. “There is no substitute for phosphorus in agriculture, and Morocco has chosen to take responsibility by investing in low-carbon, accessible, and innovative solutions.”
El Bari described OCP’s approach as “science-based and farmer-centric,” explaining that the company works “closely with researchers, farmers, and partners across agricultural and food value chains to develop sustainable fertilizers, products, and services.”
His remarks connected OCP’s $12-13 billion Green Investment Program (2023-2027) to this responsibility, spotlighting projects in green ammonia, desalination, and renewables targeting net-zero emissions by 2040.
“This is not a luxury,” he told the audience during the opening session. “This is a necessity for us all, because without nutrients there is no agriculture, and without agriculture there is no stability.”
AFA Awards honor excellence across fertilizer sector
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Arab Fertilizer Association’s leadership brought additional dimensions to the discussion.
Abdel Wahab Al Rowwad, CEO General Manager of JMPC and Vice Chairman of AFA, addressed the conference, noting that it “comes as an extension of the Union’s role in supporting and developing the Arab fertilizer industry and enhancing its support for international efforts aimed at achieving food security in our region and the world.”
In conversations with Morocco World News (MWN) after the opening ceremony, Al Rowwad pinpointed artificial intelligence as a transformative force for the sector. “The usage of artificial intelligence is very important, especially in the control measures for the industry in the fertilizer site. This aspect will reflect positively on the performance of the industry in the future,” he stated, drawing attention to Morocco’s leadership position.
“OCP has a very major role in this industry, and this conference represents the value and the effect of Morocco’s leadership in fertilizers,” he added.
Building on this foundation, Saad Abou El Maaty, Secretary General of AFA, provided historical context, noting this marks the fifth time Morocco has hosted the event.
During his welcoming address, he praised OCP’s contributions, stating: “OCP is a prestigious company established nearly a century ago, in 1920, with the first mine opened in 1921. It holds about fifty billion tons of phosphate rock reserves, representing approximately 70-75% of global phosphate rock reserves.”
El Maaty characterized the gathering to MWN as “a space of collective intelligence,” adding that the conference’s significance lies in bringing together “every player in the fertilizer industry – from producers and traders to technology providers, license holders, and contractors who build fertilizer plants.”
He stressed the urgent focus on “developing new fertilizer technologies that can boost agricultural yields,” particularly as “the global population is rising rapidly while farmland remains fixed in size.”
The celebration of innovation continued with the awards ceremony, presided over by Yasser Abderahi, CEO of GPIC and AFA Awards Judging Committee Chairman.
“We meet today to celebrate excellence and innovation in fertilizer production,” he proclaimed from the podium. “These awards recognize contributions that are not symbolic but concrete: they reduce emissions, optimize processes, and create solutions that change realities.”
The opening session featured the presentation of the AFA Awards for excellence in sustainability and applied research. SABIC won the Sustainability Excellence Prize for Companies, with MOPCO as runner-up. The Applied Research Prize for Individuals & Teams was awarded to HFC Helwan Fertilizers for Process Optimization and to Evergrow for Utilities Optimization.
Conference underscores fertilizers’ role in humanity’s survival
Behind the formal proceedings, the technical exhibition buzzed with activity. Participants examined pilot projects on green ammonia, precision agriculture tools, and phosphate-derived polymers that could one day replace hydrocarbons in plastics – illustrating what El Bari termed “the convergence of science, industry, and responsibility.”
The event unfolds against a backdrop of stark inequality in global agriculture. Studies reveal Sub-Saharan Africa applies barely 18 kilograms of fertilizer per hectare, compared to over 100 kilograms in high-income countries. Bridging this gap remains a central challenge that conferences like AFA aim to address through better access, targeted blends, and agronomic services.
The USGS confirms Morocco’s dominance in phosphate rock, controlling about 70% of global reserves. OCP’s 2023-2027 Green Investment Program targets low-carbon growth through renewables, desalination, and green ammonia, with a 2040 net-zero ambition.
As the opening session concluded and delegates dispersed to various sessions, El Bari’s message resonated clearly through UM6P’s halls: fertilizers remain the hidden architecture of food security, and their transformation will shape whether billions are fed sustainably.
“We have a duty,” El Bari declared in the conference hall, “a duty to innovate, a duty to cooperate, and a duty to deliver solutions before the crises overwhelm us.”
The conference continues through September 18 with technical sessions, workshops, and exhibitions focused on green fertilizer production, emissions reduction, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and production technology advancements.
