This week, at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the UM6P-J-PAL Agricultural Lab for Africa (UJALA), led by Lab Director Hicham El Azami, showcased its approach to addressing Africa’s agricultural challenges.

As part of its participation in the Marrakech Partnership’s Implementation Lab on Water and Food Resilience, organized by J-PAL MENA, UJALA emphasized the need for partnership-driven, evidence-based solutions to tackle Africa’s challenges, including low fertilizer use, low crop yields, and food insecurity. Additionally, UJALA highlighted the continent's potential, with vast arable land and opportunities for implementing resilient farming practices.

Through its partnership with OCP Africa, UJALA is driving research focused on improving productivity, profitability, and resilience for African smallholder farmers.