The equine sector’s future as a driver of rural, tourism, and sports development relies on its digital transformation, Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture Mohamed Sadiki stated on Tuesday at the inaugural Digital Horse Day, held in conjunction with El Jadida’s 15th Horse Show, “Salon du Cheval.”
Sadiki affirmed the importance of incorporating digital advancements to enhance horse health, performance, safety, and stable management while addressing environmental and economic challenges.
“The equine sector accounts for 0.6% of the national GDP, generating over MAD 8 billion in revenue,” Sadiki stated.
He also reiterated the commitment to modernize the sector through the implementation of essential digital technologies, to optimize breeding management, enhance traceability, and facilitate the transportation of horses, as part of the recently launched national strategy “Digital Morocco 2030.”
“The Horse Show continues to establish itself as a leader in the industry by hosting the participation of the Agriculture Digital Hub for the first time, a platform dedicated to the digitization of the agricultural sector,” the minister said.
Loubna El Mansouri, Director of the Digital Hub, defined the mission of the initiative, which aims to promote digital agriculture and support the Green Generation strategy, a roadmap to digitize 50% of agriculture and connect 2 million farmers by 2030.
She also reiterated the need to attract youth and encourage investment in this new era of agriculture.
The event included a conference on the digital development of the equine industry, which brought together national and international industry leaders.
The discussions focused on the current challenges and future opportunities within the equine industry, as well as the presentation of concrete examples of digital integration within the equine sector. In particular, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) camera technology for monitoring the safety and health of horses.
Following the conference, the Digital Pole exhibition stand hosted a technology demonstration, showcasing the latest advances in digital technologies dedicated to the equine industry in collaboration with internationally renowned startups.
The event will run until October 6 under the theme “Horse Farming in Morocco: Innovation and Challenge.” It has evolved into a crucial platform for equine industry stakeholders to engage in knowledge exchange.