Under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, the town of Erfoud is set to host the 14th International Date Palm Exhibition from October 29 to November 2, 2025. This year’s edition will spotlight one of the most urgent challenges facing Morocco’s oases: sustainable water management, a crucial issue for preserving the future of the date palm and the fragile ecosystems it supports.
Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, in partnership with the International Date Palm Exhibition Association and with support from ANDZOA, the event places a strong emphasis on rethinking agricultural models in oasis regions. The chosen theme, focused on safeguarding water resources, underscores the need for immediate adaptation to climate pressures and shifting environmental realities.
Over 230 exhibitors from Morocco and abroad are expected to take part in the event, which will unfold across a 40,000-square-meter venue designed around several thematic zones. At its heart will be the Rahba space—a 3,000-square-meter area dedicated entirely to dates and their byproducts. This showcase will highlight the work of cooperatives and economic interest groups that are adding value to the region’s flagship crop.
Key date-producing regions—including Drâa-Tafilalet, the Oriental, Souss-Massa, and Guelmim-Oued Noun—will be in the spotlight, presenting their expertise alongside cutting-edge solutions in agricultural inputs, smart irrigation systems, renewable energy, and sustainable packaging. The exhibition will also feature an interactive space for children, designed to introduce younger generations to the ecological and cultural heritage of oasis environments.
The event’s program is as ambitious as its scope. A dedicated Investment Forum will be led by the Agricultural Development Agency and Crédit Agricole du Maroc, while a scientific day—organized in collaboration with INRA, ANDZOA, FAO, and ICARDA—will provide a platform for research and innovation. Practical workshops will be offered by ONCA, and the five-day event will be enriched by business meetings, competitions, and cultural evenings.
First launched in 2010, the International Date Palm Exhibition evolved from the long-standing Tafilalet Date Festival, which dates back to 1940. It was King Mohammed VI who gave the event a national and strategic dimension from its first edition, helping to establish Erfoud as a vital meeting point between tradition and modernity.
This upcoming edition is poised to be more than just a trade fair—it’s shaping up to be a strategic hub for the entire date palm sector. It offers a platform for dialogue and action aimed at building resilience in Morocco’s oasis regions, as they confront the twin challenges of climate change and water scarcity.
