The Digital Farming School (DFS) was officially inaugurated on October 31, 2026, in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire. The institution is a collaboration between the University Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P) of Morocco, OCP Africa, and the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) of Côte d'Ivoire. The school aims to provide training in new agricultural technologies and modernize African agriculture.
The partnership seeks to address the challenges faced by African agriculture, including low productivity, limited mechanization, and inadequate technological expertise. The DFS will offer a two-year training program, fully funded, to 50 selected students out of 3,700 applicants. The program will focus on practical training, combining agronomy, computer science, artificial intelligence, and data analysis.
The UM6P is providing academic and scientific leadership to the project, with its president, Hicham El Habti, emphasizing the importance of African solutions to African problems. OCP Africa is supporting the initiative, with its director-general, Hajar Alafifi, highlighting the need for investment in human capital to drive sector transformation.
The INP-HB is hosting the DFS at its Technopôle in Yamoussoukro, strengthening its capacity for training and research. Côte d'Ivoire has been chosen as the location for the school due to the country's significant agricultural sector, which accounts for around 25% of its GDP and 40% of its export earnings.
Despite its economic importance, Côte d'Ivoire's agricultural sector faces structural constraints, including limited mechanization, inadequate irrigation infrastructure, and vulnerability to climate change. The introduction of digital technologies is seen as a key driver for improving productivity and resilience in the sector.
The DFS will offer training in cutting-edge technologies, including drone usage, connected sensors, and data analysis. The goal is to produce experts who can bridge the gap between agronomic knowledge and technological innovation, enabling them to develop practical solutions for African farmers.
The launch of the DFS has attracted significant institutional and diplomatic attention, with Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Adama Diawara, emphasizing the crucial role of science, research, and innovation in transforming African economies.
Key points
- The partnership between Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco aims to modernize African agriculture through technology and innovation.
- The Digital Farming School will provide training in new agricultural technologies to 50 students, with a focus on practical skills and innovation.
- The initiative seeks to address the challenges faced by African agriculture, including low productivity, limited mechanization, and inadequate technological expertise.
