Wicked Problems in African Agriculture: How to Overcome Them?
About this Event
On June 23, 2025, the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) at UM6P hosted the fourth seminar of the Chair of Transitions at the Laayoune Room, Ryad Center, bringing together researchers, faculty members, and students for an in-depth exploration of one of the most pressing challenges facing the African continent: the complexity of agricultural transformation.
The seminar, led by Prof. Bruno Gérard, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) at UM6P, focused on the concept of “wicked problems” in African agriculture. These problems—characterized by their systemic nature, interconnected causes, and resistance to straightforward solutions—require new ways of thinking that go beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries.
Drawing on ongoing research and field-based insights, Prof. Gérard presented a comprehensive analysis combining empirical data, policy perspectives, and transdisciplinary approaches. His intervention highlighted the structural challenges embedded within African agri-food systems, including climate variability, resource constraints, socio-economic inequalities, and governance complexities.
The discussion emphasized that addressing such challenges demands more than technical fixes. Instead, it calls for integrated frameworks that connect science, policy, and local knowledge systems. Education and innovation were presented as key drivers of this transformation, with universities and research institutions playing a central role in fostering new models of collaboration and problem-solving.
Throughout the seminar, participants engaged in a dynamic exchange on how to move from diagnosis to action—exploring pathways toward more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural systems across the continent.
This fourth seminar of the Chair of Transitions reaffirms IAS’s commitment to advancing critical dialogue at the intersection of science, society, and policy, while contributing to the emergence of forward-looking solutions tailored to African contexts.