Global Courant
This pioneering school, with its innovative teaching approach, will be the first project of its kind on the continent and will provide new opportunities for young Ivorians passionate about AgriTech.
In close collaboration with the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INPHB), the Digital Farming School will be the first branch of the Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P) in sub-Saharan Africa, located in the Yamoussoukro Technopole.
The project will come into being in the ‘Year of Youth’, as proclaimed by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Alassane Dramane Ouattara, demonstrating the commitment of the Ivorian Government to support educational and technological initiatives for young people . Over the next 10 to 12 months, the first cohort of around 100 talented young people will enter the school, benefiting from an excellent education in Agritech and using the experimental farm next to the school as their laboratory. The creation of this school is part of the partnership between OCP Group and the Government of Ivory Coast, signed by the Ministers of Agriculture and Industry, headed by Prime Minister Patrick Achi.
The school’s innovation ecosystem is strengthened by the participation of a hundred or so agritech start-up partners in the Farming Innovation Program launched by OCP Africa in collaboration with AgriEdge and UM6P. These partners will work closely with the school to provide expertise, create mentoring opportunities and encourage the creation of innovative businesses in the agricultural sector.
The vision of the Digital Farming School is to establish an innovative AgriTech training concept, which offers young Ivorians a unique opportunity to develop high-quality digital farming skills. Based on a hands-on approach, the school will be supported by a digital reference farm, enabling students to learn by doing (Learning by Farming) and by sharing their knowledge with peers (Peer Learning).
Dr. Mohamed Anouar Jamali, Chief Executive Officer of OCP Africa said: “We are delighted to lay the foundation stone of the Digital Farming School here in Yamoussoukro which will help open up new opportunities for young people in Ivory Coast in the field of AgriTech , strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship and the digital transformation of agriculture in Côte d’Ivoire and Africa”.
Hicham El Habti, President of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, said: “The Digital Farming School in Yamoussoukro illustrates UM6P’s ambitions for Africa, focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship and agriculture. This innovative project, which combines learning with This practical training, allows us to support the young people of Ivory Coast in the development of the continent, especially in AgriTech. “It is a real pleasure to give this kick-off, which gives concrete expression to this fruitful Pan-African partnership, with agriculture at the heart of the training.”
