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Sustainable oases agriculture : A journey through Morocco’s date palm production system

Hamriri Kaoutar, Atmani Majid, Abidar Ali, Aziz Larbi, Fagroud Mustapha, Bouamri Rachid

Journal of Water and Land Development

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2024

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no. 60

1--11

EN

In the heart of Moroccan oases, date palm trees stand as the lifeblood of local communities, serving as both a livelihood cornerstone and a dietary treasure trove. Morocco has long been a leading date fruit producer. Yet, amidst the palm groves, several environmental, technical, and socio-economic challenges have threatened the sustainability of this ancient crop. This study assesses the constraints and limitations of the date palm production system in Tafilalet oases that have kept this crop from reaching its full potential. A total of 56 producers were interviewed using an open-closed survey, illuminating interviews with key informants, dynamic focus group discussions, and direct observations in palm groves. The findings reveal that primary restrictions and barriers impeding the progress of this sector are: producers’ moderate education level and the limited adoption of technological innovation, few opportunities given to young producers, palm groves’ fragmentation, poor management of date fruits, low imports of the necessary inputs (fertilisers, irrigation, etc.), and the poor organisation of the marketing circuit (storage and packaging). Advocate renewed commitment to preserve and modernise palm groves, blending heritage with modern practices for thriving, sustainable date palm production. It is entirely conceivable to produce organic dates in the region since producers use a few quantities of chemical products, notably fertilisers and phytosanitary products.

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Whey Valorization – Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Development and Value-Added Product Creation

Soumati Bouchra, Atmani Majid, Benabderrahmane Asmae, Benjelloun Meryem

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2023

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Vol. 24, nr 10

86--104

EN

In recent years, the pursuit of sustainable practices and the efficient utilization of resources has become paramount in various industries, including the food and beverage sector. One such challenge faced by the dairy industry is the management of whey, a byproduct generated during cheese and yogurt production. Historically, whey has been perceived as a discarded waste product, leading to environmental concerns due to its high organic load and disposal challenges. However, with the increasing emphasis on sustainability, researchers and industry leaders have recognized the potential of developing innovative approaches to valorize whey, transforming it into valuable products while minimizing waste and environmental impact. Essentially turning it from “gutter-to-gold. This review provides an overview of the technologies used for whey valorization, with a focus on new approaches, innovative products, and emerging perspectives. It aims to stimulate research and innovation in this critical field, fostering the development of a more sustainable and circular dairy industry.

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Impact of Innovation Platforms in Promoting the Dissemination of Biotechnological Innovation – Case of Compost in Date Palm in Southeastern Morocco

Hamriri Kaoutar, Atmani Majid, Aziz Larbi, Abidar Ali, Bouamri Rachid, Kane Moustapha Mouhamadou

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2023

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Vol. 24, nr 7

209--224

EN

The sustainability of date palm production in Tafilalet’s palm grovesis threatened by many constraints related to the dryland’s severe environment, climate change, and improper human activities. Biotechnological innovations are new agricultural research discoveries increasingly used to improve agricultural sustainability. For example compost, has proven its benefits in facing date palm production constraints, improving its productivity, and enhancing soil health. Using linear approaches has proven their ineffectiveness to disseminate the advantages of innovations to small producers. As an alternative, Innovation Platforms (IPs) constitute a participatory approach based on a multi-stakeholder alliance for disseminating innovations. This article aimed to study the effects of Ips on the compost adoption and dissemination process as well as evaluate compost impacts on the production of dates. Two types of investigation tools were conducted on members of 47 IPs. Data were analyzed using factorial analysis, content analysis, and communication network analysis. The results show that IPs are a new organizational innovation impacting positively on date palm social systems. They create powerful collective learning through their strong dynamism and interaction. The producers who adopted compost are characterized by a high level of education, take a responsible position in GIE, have a large social network, interact with the research team and other producers, engage and participate in the activities of IPs, search for agricultural news, and have the ability to accept change and develop their skills. Compost can improve the water-holding capacity of soil, increase yield, and reduce expenses by decreasing the need for water, fertilizers, and phytosanitary treatments. Compost is the best alternative to face the environmental and climate change drawbacks on the production of dates.

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Chemical and Elemental Composition of Ammi visnaga L. and Calendula officinalis L. from Meknes, Morocco

Benabderrahmane Asmae, Atmani Majid, Rhioui Wijdane, Boutagayout Abdellatif, Errachidi Faouzi, Belmalha Saadia

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2023

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Vol. 24, nr 8

84--94

EN

The powders of Ammi visnaga L. and Calendula officinalis L. plants collected from Meknes region were subjected to three types of analysis, including Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, CHNS/O analysis, and ICP-AES analysis with the aim of comparing and giving an insight into the nutritional value, medicinal properties, and potential applications in different fields. The results of the FTIR analysis showed absorbance bands in the same wavelengths, but with different peaks, indicating the presence of long-chain linear aliphatic compounds, lipids, amides, aromatic compounds, and other functional groups in both plants. The CHNS/O analysis revealed high levels of carbon and oxygen, followed by hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur for both plants, with no significant differences in the values. The ICP analysis detected 16 minerals, including calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium in Ammi visnaga, and low levels of sodium in comparison to Calendula officinalis. Calendula officinalis accumulated more aluminum and lead than Ammi visnaga, indicating higher tolerance to contaminations. Zinc, iron, manganese, and copper were important micronutrients present in both plants. The findings of this study suggest that both plants have significant amounts of phytochemical compounds and minerals, which could be beneficial for their potential use in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries.

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Biological Properties of Chamaerops humilis L. – Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Leaf, Fruit and Pulp Extracts

Nekhla Houria, Atmani Majid, El Hanafi Laila, Rhioui Wijdane, Goubi Abdelfatah, Squalli Wafae, Zahri Aziz, Harrach Ahmed, El Ghadraoui Lahsen

Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology

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2023

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Vol. 24, iss. 8

346--356

EN

This work aimed to evaluate the polyphenol and flavonoid composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of leaf, fruit and pulp extracts of Chamaerops humilis L. Dry extracts of leaves, fruits and pulp were prepared by ultrasonic extraction and examined as potential sources of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Different methods were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extracts, including DPPH free radical scavenging assay and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the tested extracts were examined by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride (AlCl3 ) methods, respectively. The antibacterial activity of leaf, fruit and pulp extracts against a collection of bacterial strains was evaluated using various in vitro methods, including well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The results suggest that the leaf, the fruit and the pulp extracts have good potential as sources of bioactive compounds, the TPC and TFC of leaves were 116.209 ± 1.58 and 2.313 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g d.w, respectively. The TPC and TFC were 78.621 ± 1.06 and 0.425± 0.02 mg GAE/g dry weight in fruits, respectively. The best ability to trap DPPH radical was observed in the leaf extract (IC50 = 4.006 ± 0.36 mg/ml d.w); also, this extract revealed a better total antioxidant capacity of 119.702 ± 1.59 mg AGE/g dry weight. Regarding antibacterial activity, the leaves showed an important antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms with MIC ranging from 0.195 mg/ml to 3.125 mg/ml and with an inhibition diameter ranging from 12.03 ± 0.2 mm to 16.26 ± 0.03 mm Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between phytochemical parameters (TPC and TFC) and biological activities (antioxidant and antimicrobial activities). These results revealed that leaves, fruits and pulp extracts of C. humilis are a good source of bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant and antibacterial potentials. Therefore, they can be a new and alternative source of products for medical and industrial applications.