Digital Transformation Enters the Equestrian World: Innovative Solutions for the Horse Sector in Morocco
The digital hub of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests has, for the first time, introduced concrete solutions tailored for the horse sector during the 16th edition of the Horse Exhibition in El Jadida.
These solutions include a technology watch tower, a chatbot, an integrated information system for horse breeding management (ERP-CRM), and a network of digital farms, signifying that innovation within the horse sector is increasingly reliant on stronger integration of digital technologies.
Among the key products showcased is the “Akropolis” technology watch tower (Agripulse), which now also covers the horse sector. This tool allows for seamless gathering and organization of data related to projects, startups, technologies, companies, and training linked to various agricultural production chains.
In this context, Lubna Mansouri, Director of the Digital Hub for Agriculture and Forests and the Drought Observatory, stated, “This year marks the first integration of the horse sector into our observatory,” highlighting the added value of this tool as “it is not just an ordinary platform; it is a real effective watch tower that provides precise, reliable, and updated information.”
Mansouri further noted that this observatory, equipped with an AI-driven assistant, offers advice tailored to user needs, and that this tool will gradually be made available to the public as part of a crowdsourcing approach to ensure continuous and participatory updates.
Another innovation presented is the chatbot, “KhAIl Connect,” developed in collaboration with the Royal Moroccan Society for the Encouragement of Horse Breeding. This intelligent assistant can communicate in Moroccan Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and French, with features supporting voice and multilingual capabilities.
Mansouri explained that “this chatbot has been trained using 6,000 national documents and databases from the Royal Moroccan Society. The textual collections in French and Modern Standard Arabic were adapted to align with Moroccan Arabic, allowing it to engage in conversations in our national dialect.”
She added that this chatbot, which relies on national and local data, serves as a practical tool for professionals, emphasizing that “the primary goal is to facilitate access to information and support users in understanding and mastering digital innovations.”
The network of digital farms is another significant product of the ministry, aimed at bringing technology closer to the field. Unlike experimental sites, these are actual production farms where digital solutions are tested and evaluated in real operational conditions.
In this regard, Mansouri stated, “We are currently working with 56 farms, of which seven are operational. The goal is to test technologies in a realistic environment, measure their impact, and create live spaces for training, research, and education.”
This network combines practical offerings, training, and evaluations of economic, social, and environmental impacts. For the first time, within the horse exhibition framework, two horse farms (Benslimane and El Jadida) have been included in this program.
The fourth innovation involves testing the ERP-CRM system designed to manage the Benslimane and El Jadida horse farms. This program was developed by a Belgian startup active in over 30 countries and manages more than 200,000 horses annually. Known as “Equicty,” this system offers comprehensive smart management of horses, including identification and tracking, nutrition, health monitoring, training, and documentation management.
Mansouri remarked, “We have chosen a gradual approach that involves testing, learning, and then applying. The ERP-CRM we are testing must prove its added value before any widespread implementation, ensuring it suits the Moroccan context.”
A well-structured governance framework has been established for leading digital transformation. The digital hub was initiated almost three years ago as a public benefit group, a collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries along with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It comprises eleven founding members from research, training institutes, development agencies, and financing entities, plus a broad network of national and international partners.
Its mission is to coordinate and accelerate the digital transformation of the agricultural sector, focusing on four main areas: agricultural digitization, drought observatory, South-South cooperation, and women’s integration in property rights. This enables a comprehensive and integrated approach to digitalization encompassing all sectors, including equestrian activities.
