Summary of Agris Mundus technical visit to Morocco
5th – 11th April 2007, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire (IAV) Hassan II
A technical visit was undertaken to Morocco on the above-mentioned dates. The rationale behind the visit was basically to strengthen the existing partnership and collaboration between Agris Mundus and the IAV Hassan II. These could be obtained through the following ways:
Envisaging the possibility of implementing an Agris Mundus Master thesis in Morocco, considering that as Agris Mundus students we are encouraged to develop our Master thesis in third Countries
Presenting the whole Agris Mundus project to all IAV students
Paying a visit to a number of livestock production systems in Morocco
The two of us (Hajer and Lawrens) used the savings from our scholarships to cater for expenditures incurred during the trip while Valeria, a European student studying without an Agris Mundus bursary, was financially supported by a grant under the framework of the so-called Action 3.
The places we visited during our short stay in Morocco include among others the following:
1) Argan tree farming
We visited the livestock production systems in the south-western regions where the so-called Argania spinosa tree is endemic and predominant. This tree serves as an important and main source of food for livestock and in particular goats, as made possible by their feeding habits and their adaptability to harsh environmental conditions. We were overwhelmed by the importance of this tree in supporting the lives of local people as the only source of food for their goats. Hence, we were keen to conduct a possible research thesis concentrating on the effect of Argan tree on some important production traits.
2) “Coopérative Ajddigue, Tidzi”
We visited the “Coopérative Ajddigue, Tidzi”, a cooperative composed of local women in the Essaouira district. They extract oil from argan fruits. This oil is utilized mainly for the production of cosmetic products. The by-products deriving from the oil extraction process are used as feed for livestock. We were very impressed by the initiative taken by the women in this district since they use some traditional equipment and also some new state-of-the-art technologies to extract oil from the Argan fruit.
3) Dairy farms
We visited a number of dairy farms in Morocco. At these farms, we had the opportunity to see and observe not only the livestock under production but also the design of agricultural buildings and structures. We could also see the use of traditional and locally available material such as clay and straw. The use of this material was important not only because it is economically cheap but also because they have the desired thermal insulation properties.
4) Visit and presentation at IAV Hassan II
Presentations were carried out at IAV Hassan II. We started with the presentation by Prof. Biondi. In her presentation, she focused on the findings of some of the numerous research trials conducted by the Department of Animal Production of the University of Catania. The audience consisted mainly of the 5th year Animal Production students from IVA Hassan II.
Then, we were accorded an opportunity of doing a presentation focusing on the ‘Agris Mundus Master of Science degree in Sustainable Development in Agriculture’ as offered by the various European institutions involved. Approximately 50 students attended this session, coming from a broad spectrum of fields within the agricultural sector.
A technical visit was undertaken to Morocco on the above-mentioned dates. The rationale behind the visit was basically to strengthen the existing partnership and collaboration between Agris Mundus and the IAV Hassan II. These could be obtained through the following ways:
Envisaging the possibility of implementing an Agris Mundus Master thesis in Morocco, considering that as Agris Mundus students we are encouraged to develop our Master thesis in third Countries
Presenting the whole Agris Mundus project to all IAV students
Paying a visit to a number of livestock production systems in Morocco
The two of us (Hajer and Lawrens) used the savings from our scholarships to cater for expenditures incurred during the trip while Valeria, a European student studying without an Agris Mundus bursary, was financially supported by a grant under the framework of the so-called Action 3.
The places we visited during our short stay in Morocco include among others the following:
1) Argan tree farming
We visited the livestock production systems in the south-western regions where the so-called Argania spinosa tree is endemic and predominant. This tree serves as an important and main source of food for livestock and in particular goats, as made possible by their feeding habits and their adaptability to harsh environmental conditions. We were overwhelmed by the importance of this tree in supporting the lives of local people as the only source of food for their goats. Hence, we were keen to conduct a possible research thesis concentrating on the effect of Argan tree on some important production traits.
2) “Coopérative Ajddigue, Tidzi”
We visited the “Coopérative Ajddigue, Tidzi”, a cooperative composed of local women in the Essaouira district. They extract oil from argan fruits. This oil is utilized mainly for the production of cosmetic products. The by-products deriving from the oil extraction process are used as feed for livestock. We were very impressed by the initiative taken by the women in this district since they use some traditional equipment and also some new state-of-the-art technologies to extract oil from the Argan fruit.
3) Dairy farms
We visited a number of dairy farms in Morocco. At these farms, we had the opportunity to see and observe not only the livestock under production but also the design of agricultural buildings and structures. We could also see the use of traditional and locally available material such as clay and straw. The use of this material was important not only because it is economically cheap but also because they have the desired thermal insulation properties.
4) Visit and presentation at IAV Hassan II
Presentations were carried out at IAV Hassan II. We started with the presentation by Prof. Biondi. In her presentation, she focused on the findings of some of the numerous research trials conducted by the Department of Animal Production of the University of Catania. The audience consisted mainly of the 5th year Animal Production students from IVA Hassan II.
Then, we were accorded an opportunity of doing a presentation focusing on the ‘Agris Mundus Master of Science degree in Sustainable Development in Agriculture’ as offered by the various European institutions involved. Approximately 50 students attended this session, coming from a broad spectrum of fields within the agricultural sector.
ERASMUS MUNDUS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Dear Erasmus Mundus students and graduates,
Today you are receiving the first number of the Erasmus Mundus Alumni Newsletter, a service provided for all Erasmus Mundus students and graduates.
The EMA Newsletter is planned to appear approximately every six weeks, featuring news about the Erasmus Mundus scheme, the Erasmus Mundus Alumni Association (EMA), as well as general news about higher education in Europe.
Please note that this service is still under development. In the future you will have the possibility to define your profile and choose the newsletter categories you are most interested in (you will then only receive the articles corresponding to the categories you have chosen), as well as the possibility to unsubscribe from the newsletter service .
We would like to remind you that you are welcome to register to the EMA website, at www.erasmusmundusalumni.eu.
Those of you who have followed the preparation of the EMA since the beginning will already be familiar with the information contained in some of the newsletter articles. However, we wanted to make sure that this information reaches every one of you, and hence decided to make this first edition as comprehensive as possible.
Enjoy the EMA Newsletter, and please don't forget to answer to our short survey at the end of this issue. Your replies will help us develop and improve this service in conformity with your own needs and preferences!
Kind regards
Mihaela Ostafe
Project Officer
e-mail: mihaela.ostafe(at)aca-secretariat.be
Today you are receiving the first number of the Erasmus Mundus Alumni Newsletter, a service provided for all Erasmus Mundus students and graduates.
The EMA Newsletter is planned to appear approximately every six weeks, featuring news about the Erasmus Mundus scheme, the Erasmus Mundus Alumni Association (EMA), as well as general news about higher education in Europe.
Please note that this service is still under development. In the future you will have the possibility to define your profile and choose the newsletter categories you are most interested in (you will then only receive the articles corresponding to the categories you have chosen), as well as the possibility to unsubscribe from the newsletter service .
We would like to remind you that you are welcome to register to the EMA website, at www.erasmusmundusalumni.eu.
Those of you who have followed the preparation of the EMA since the beginning will already be familiar with the information contained in some of the newsletter articles. However, we wanted to make sure that this information reaches every one of you, and hence decided to make this first edition as comprehensive as possible.
Enjoy the EMA Newsletter, and please don't forget to answer to our short survey at the end of this issue. Your replies will help us develop and improve this service in conformity with your own needs and preferences!
Kind regards
Mihaela Ostafe
Project Officer
e-mail: mihaela.ostafe(at)aca-secretariat.be
posted by agristudent @ 12:38 PM
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