UM6P-Backed Digital Farming School Opens Applications for First Cohort in Côte d'Ivoire

Agadir – The Digital Farming School (DFS), developed by Morocco's Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and Côte d'Ivoire's Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (INP-HB), has opened applications for its first cohort, with the two-year program set to begin in November 2026 in Yamoussoukro. Supported by OCP Africa, the program will provide 50 students with fully funded training leading to a certificate as specialized Agritech developers, according to a press release received by Morocco World News (MWN). The initiative seeks to develop technical skills in digital agriculture and prepare a new generation of professionals capable of applying emerging technologies to practical challenges facing farmers and agricultural businesses. The training will cover technologies including connected sensors, agricultural drones, crop-monitoring platforms, decision-support tools, automation, and data analysis. According to UM6P, the program is designed to go beyond theoretical instruction by combining classroom learning with practical, field-based training. Students will have access to technology laboratories, digital platforms, an experimental farm, a fab lab, an incubator, and entrepreneurial support. Students will also be expected to develop and test solutions to real agricultural challenges while working with farmers, researchers, businesses, and other stakeholders within the Agritech ecosystem. Training tailored to African agriculture The launch comes as African agricultural systems face growing pressure from population growth, climate change, and the need to strengthen food security and agricultural productivity. UM6P said digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, satellite data, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, automation, and data analytics, are increasingly reshaping the agricultural sector and creating demand for new technical skills. The DFS program seeks to position itself at the intersection of agriculture and technology by training technicians who can identify relevant technologies and adapt them to the specific needs and realities of African agricultural systems. 'Our ambition is to bring training as close as possible to realities on the ground,' said Koko Louis, Director General of the DFS. 'At the Digital Farming School, students will learn to experiment with, adapt, and deploy new technologies in response to real agricultural challenges. This is precisely the meaning of Learning by Farming: making the farm itself a space for learning, innovation, and the creation of solutions, ' he added. The school also intends to develop an innovation ecosystem connecting education, applied research, experimentation, entrepreneurship, and partnerships with the private sector. Over time, the DFS aims to foster collaboration among universities, research centers, companies, startups, and institutions working on the digital transformation of African agriculture. Applications now open Applications for the inaugural cohort opened on September 7, 2026. The program is open to applicants aged between 18 and 35 who hold a Bac+2 or higher qualification and have an interest in digital agriculture and technological innovation. The selection process will include online and in-person tests, followed by a three-week intensive Self Assessment Skills (SAS) phase at the DFS. The first cohort is scheduled to begin its two-year training program in November 2026. Admission requirements, the selection timetable, and application procedures are available through the Digital Farming School's official website.