The 14th edition of the International Date Fair in Morocco (SIDATTES 2025), held from October 29 to November 2 in Erfoud, was hailed as a «resounding success» with more than 94,000 visitors attending. Focusing on the theme «Sustainable Water Resource Management: A Foundation for the Development of Date Palms and Oases», this year's event attracted over 220 exhibitors and generated an impressive turnover exceeding 38 million dirhams, according to organizers. Participants from nine countries were drawn to a diverse program that included an Investment Forum, thematic workshops and demonstrations, B2B meetings, a scientific day, along with cultural activities and a date product competition. The theme of this 14th edition underscores, as noted by organizers, a collective recognition of the escalating challenges posed by water scarcity, desertification, and climate change, which threaten the sustainability of Morocco's oases. These oases, vital reservoirs of biodiversity and cultural heritage, rely heavily on water availability to sustain their ecological, economic, and social equilibrium. Organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, and spearheaded by the International Date Fair Association in Morocco with support from the National Agency for the Development of Oasian and Argan Zones (ANDZOA), the event served as a platform to rally public and private stakeholders around practical solutions for integrated and sustainable water resource management, aimed at fostering the development of date palms and revitalizing oases.
