The scientific community is forging closer ties with the agricultural sector. Farmers representing diverse production branches recently completed a training program focused on optimal organic fertilization techniques and the recycling of ecological waste. This comes at a time when overhauling soil nutrition systems has become a pressing necessity due to accelerating land degradation and shifting global weather patterns.
Orchestrated by the National Higher School of Agronomy (ENSA), this two-day instructional workshop trained about twenty growers affiliated with the Agricultural Chamber of Algiers Province, which co-sponsored the event. The seminar, themed “Optimal Methods for Organic Fertilization and Ecological Waste Valorization,” focused primarily on soil vitality and the impact of proper nourishment on enhancing field fertility and crop yields. Discussions highlighted the power of natural fertilizers and biostimulants in driving sustainable crop growth, organic management for fruit orchards, and included a hands-on session at ENSA’s experimental research farm.
Organizers noted that the program aims to enrich growers’ understanding of natural soil management and sustainable farming, while actively spreading methods to repurpose organic waste directly on commercial farms.
This workshop aligns with the ongoing momentum of “EcoFertiS,” an international research project centered on sustainable agriculture and the shift toward organic soil inputs, an initiative Algeria joined in 2018.
Attending the launch of this educational workshop, which wrapped up on Wednesday and Thursday, the President of the Algiers Agricultural Chamber, Brahim Djeraibia, underscored the vital nature of the curriculum and called for an immediate update to Algeria’s soil nutrition strategies. “It is absolutely vital to restore soil fertility,” he pointed out, revealing that organic matter levels in local soil have dropped to a critical low of under 1%. Referencing statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Mr. Djeraibia emphasized the urgency of adapting to climate variations that worsen land erosion.
Natural fertilization, the recycling of agricultural waste, and the utilization of treated sludge from wastewater purification plants represent core pillars that authorities can rely on to regenerate depleted arable land.
Reaffirming the Chamber’s mandate to provide continuous guidance to growers, the president stressed the need to lean more heavily on academic research and modern methodologies within a farming sector that has seen impressive growth over recent years.
In parallel, the Deputy Director of International Programs at the General Directorate for Scientific Research and Technological Development (DGRSDT), Mohamed Loucif Saied, praised the EcoFertiS framework, which is currently coordinated by an Algerian expert. He indicated that Algeria has successfully drawn about one hundred projects under this international banner.
The participating farmers—representing fields such as fruit orchards, viticulture, and vegetable farming—expressed deep appreciation for the initiative, describing it as highly rewarding. This sentiment was echoed by the head of the Algiers Province Market Gardeners’ Association, who stated that focusing directly on biological fertilization simplifies field management and delivers clear benefits to everyday growers.