In May 2026, ICARDA organised a two-day NUSTALGIC Training of Trainers (ToT) in Morocco, bringing together trainers to strengthen their capacity to support farmers in the adoption of NUSTALGIC innovations.
The training combined technical and social dimensions of climate-resilient dryland farming, covering neglected and underutilised species (NUS), agronomic practices, small-scale mechanisation, water harvesting, soil health, gender-responsive approaches and financial literacy.
Experts from across the project and local institutions contributed to the programme, including ICARDA, the High Atlas Foundation, the American University of Beirut, the Directorate of Education, Training and Research (DEFR) of the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, and Crédit Agricole du Maroc.
The training highlighted the importance of combining technological innovation with local knowledge, social inclusion, practical capacity building and economic opportunities. The trained facilitators will support upcoming Farmer Meetings in Rabat, Meknes and El Hajeb, contributing to the development of demonstration sites as long-term learning spaces for farmers and local communities.
