The Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Programme has launched a strategic wheat development project in Mauritania aimed at strengthening national capacity for wheat seed multiplication, boosting agricultural productivity, and enhancing the wheat value chain. Implemented in collaboration with the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), the initiative reflects the Programme’s commitment to advancing food security and sustainable development across Arab and African member nations.
The project was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and is being executed in partnership and coordination with Mauritania’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. It draws on ACSAD’s technical expertise and the Programme’s financial support to reduce Mauritania’s dependence on wheat imports by expanding the production of high-yield, locally grown wheat seeds.
The initiative’s primary objective is to establish a national wheat seed multiplication programme in Mauritania to enhance local production of certified ACSAD wheat varieties, promote the adoption of improved hard and soft wheat strains, and decrease reliance on imported seeds. By producing high-quality, disease-free seeds locally, the project aims to reduce agricultural risks while fostering the development of high-yield, climate-resilient wheat varieties adapted to local conditions through the launch of a national wheat breeding programme this season.
Beyond seed production, the project supports efforts to improve agricultural practices along the wheat value chain, including harvest and post-harvest management, in order to reduce losses and raise productivity. It also focuses on supplying quality seeds for broader agricultural use, minimising genetic contamination in cultivation, and updating institutional frameworks that govern wheat production and marketing—ultimately strengthening Mauritania’s food security and agricultural resilience.
During the 2023–2024 agricultural season, ACSAD supplied improved wheat varieties for cultivation on a 20-hectare site in the Arkez region. The initial harvest produced more than 16 tonnes of soft and hard wheat, which were then used for seed multiplication in the following 2024–2025 season. The project’s steering committee—comprising representatives from ACSAD, ITFC, and the Ministry—held its first meeting in September 2024 and a second in May 2025 to review progress and endorse the next phase. Plans include expanding cultivation to more provinces, launching a national wheat breeding programme to develop new high-yield varieties tolerant to drought and high temperatures, and strengthening national technical capacity to meet the challenges posed by climate change.
This initiative reflects the AATB Programme’s mission to support transformative cross-border projects that drive economic resilience, deepen regional integration, and promote long-term self-reliance and sustainable development among member countries. By enabling regional technical cooperation and advancing sustainable agricultural practices, the Programme is addressing urgent development priorities while laying the foundation for lasting food security in Mauritania. Furthermore, it offers a replicable model for other nations confronting similar challenges, reinforcing the Programme’s role as a catalyst for inclusive, sustainable growth across Arab and African regions.
