Climate Resilience in Agriculture: Exploring Diverse Regions and Empowering Youth in Morocco

On this 3-week May term program, you will travel to and around Morocco where you will learn about the different regions and agricultural systems that are found throughout the country. Despite its relatively small size, Morocco stands out for its notable role in the fight against climate change. Learn about the impacts of climate change on food production and how, through modifications in cultural practices, governmental policy, and technological advances, stakeholders are adapting to the rapid change. Visit modern, export-oriented farms producing fruits and vegetables with sophisticated technology in northern plains, smaller, more traditional farms in the valleys of the Atlas Mountains, and a fragile and endangered oasis located on the leeward side of the mountains.

This course will also consider the critical involvement of youth in agriculture. Despite improvements in agricultural productivity, the future of Moroccan agriculture is uncertain. While climate change is a clear threat, diminishing interest in agriculture among Morocco's youth is a growing concern. Youth ages 15–26 years old comprise about 26% of the country's population. The migration of youth from rural areas has accelerated in recent years. You will speak with groups working with young Moroccans and, if possible, with young people themselves, to understand their concerns and the challenges they encounter.

If you have an interest in food systems, climate change, agriculture, sustainability, climate change, youth engagement, and climate policy, you are encouraged to apply.

Information Sessions

Learn more about this program by joining a 30-minute zoom information session. If you are not able to make one of the information sessions, you can also request more information via the registration link.

• Monday, September 29 at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom 
• Wednesday, October 15 at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom
• Monday, November 10 at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom 

You will be housed in hotels and will have one night of camping in the Sahara Desert. Most meals are included in the program fee.

January 1, 2026

You will earn 3 credits for CFAN 3534.

This course has been approved for:

• the Global Perspectives theme and Environment theme
• the Biophysical Sciences elective in the Sustainability Studies minor
• an elective in the Agronomy minor, the Sustainable Agriculture minor, and the International Agriculture minor
• it is currently under review for approval as an elective in the Food Systems minor

Mary Brakke is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics. She previously taught an 8-week course in Panama.

While subject to change, below is a list of potential excursions and program activities:

• Marrakech Medina
• Rabat city tour
• Beni Mellal
• Mountain farming zones and community meetings in Zaouiat Sheik
• Waterfalls Ain Asserdoun
• Oasis Amaln
• Youth Start-up Project in Kenitra Region
• Oasis Ait Mansour
• Mohamed VI National Water Museum
• Local music performance & camel rides in Aglou

Contact Vanessa Walton from the CFANS Office of International Programs at [email protected] with your questions.

Past Participants

To learn more about the student experience, feel free to contact the past participants below:

• Maya Chilcote—Environmental Science, Policy, and Management/Music Performance Major
• Lily Dodge—Neuroscience Major

Program fees can vary widely due to location, cost of living, airfare, and program inclusions. The program fee generally includes tuition, in-country program-related transportation, housing, most meals, entrances to course-related excursions and site visits, program administration, and international health insurance. You should also budget for passport and passport photos, airfare, airport transfers, some meals, textbooks, independent travel, and miscellaneous living expenses.

The application fee, deposit, and program fee are charged to your UofM account.

The College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences offers grants for study abroad programs. 

All applicants are charged a $50 non-refundable application fee by the Learning Abroad Center. Once you confirm your participation in the program, you will have a $825 non-refundable deposit charged to your student account. If you cancel your application before January 15, 2026, you are responsible for the non-refundable deposit. If you cancel your application on January 15, 2026 or later, you are responsible for the non-refundable deposit and any non-recoverable fees.

In the event that the CFANS Office of International Programs (OIP) is forced to cancel this program, you will receive a full refund of your application fee and deposit if you are both accepted and confirmed to the program. In the event that you have started the on-campus portion of the program, but international conditions do not allow for travel, as per University of Minnesota policy, you will be provided with the ability to complete the course and recoverable fees will be returned to you.

You have the option to appeal the CFANS OIP cancellation policy when canceling from a program for extenuating circumstances. Refer to the Learning Abroad Center's refund appeal process for details and the form to submit. The review and decision will be made by CFANS OIP, not the LAC refund appeal committee.