In Morocco, agriculture faces two critical challenges: soil degradation and water scarcity. Over half (52%) of the country’s agricultural land is degraded, and a staggering 88% of its water is consumed for agricultural purposes. To tackle these urgent issues, a group of forward-thinking innovators—Achraf Ouhdidou, Babahaj Zakarya, Mohamed Amine Zirari, Rania Gouglou, Rania Jaafar, and Salma Nazih—came together to create Smart Aquaponics.
Their innovative solution earned them the 2024 Tech4Good Regional Competition award in Morocco, securing a coveted spot in the 2025 Global Finals in China. We recently spoke with the team to learn more about their journey, vision, and advice for aspiring change-makers.
What is Smart Aquaponics?
In response to the pressing agricultural issue, the team developed their project centred on aquaponics. The system involves planting crops in water and not in soil, which creates an interdependent relationship between fish and plants. The fish provide nutrient-rich waste that helps the plants thrive, creating a self-sustaining cycle. Zakarya further explained how this is a smart solution, “we will include AI components to predict the optimal level of nutrients to help plants grow, real time monitoring sensors, and an automatic feeder that will inject nutrients into the water.”
The process of developing Smart Aquaponics tested the team’s teamwork and problem-solving skills. Time was a huge constraint – the team had to derive a problem statement, technological solution and business plan within the span of days. Salma also added that market research was another obstacle, noting “we didn’t have a lot of information… we could not find farmers to ask about their difficulties.” However, the team leveraged their collective efforts to turn adversity into a memorable learning opportunity. Rania J. reflected, “It was a lot of research on everybody’s part… Zacharya was making the prototype, Salma the business plan, we worked with each other that eventually culminated in the presentation,” It was the team’s collaborative spirit, their clarity on the problem statement, and strong pitch that led Smart Aquaponics to victory.
Highlights from the Competition
The team’s experience was not only memorable due to their win, but also from a deep sense of camaraderie and fun. For several members, it was their first time participating in a Tech4Good competition. Amine reflected how it was an incredible experience, “each member brought unique skills and perspectives which made collaborations both productive and inspiring.”
Whether it was the excitement of brainstorming new ideas, the challenge of solving technical issues, or the casual conversations and laughter shared during the late-night work sessions, these moments all brought the team together, stronger. Competition aside, the team agreed that it was the entire journey that made it such a fun and memorable week, and they greatly treasured the friendship made along the way.
Future Plans
Since the competition, the team has made big plans for Smart Aquaponics. They have continued to refine their business plan and feasibility study with help from their mentor Ilyass Benarouia. In particular, the team benefited from his advice that they should focus on finding their impact, and breaking complex problems into clear, actionable insights.
The team is also determined to perfect their 2D prototype despite facing challenges such as balancing this project with their school commitments. Furthermore, the team is currently split across two continents with several members in the United States. Nevertheless, their commitment to move forward demonstrates their strong dedication towards Smart Aquaponics.
Looking ahead, the team aims to conduct an onsite visit in Morocco when their schedules align, and develop their project as much as possible before the Global Finals. The team is optimistic about the future of Smart Aquaponics, recognising its potential to revolutionise agriculture.
Amine highlighted the possibility of integrating renewable energy like solar or wind power to power the system. Rania G. expounded on the team’s vision, sharing, “As global population and environmental challenges continue to grow, Smart Aquaponics will become essential… being adopted in homes, schools and large-scale farms.” Zakarya layered on to this vision by expressing his hope that Smart Aquaponics gets adopted in smart cities and is scaled as a commercial solution. With ambitious plans, the team is poised to make an impact in sustainable agriculture.
Advice for Tech4Good Participants
Wrapping up the session, Smart Aquaponics members reflected on their journey and gave the following advice:
- Stay Focused and Embrace Challenges: Work hard and view challenges as an opportunity for growth. Seek help from mentors and professionals when needed.
- Build a Strong Team: Choose a good leader and distribute tasks based on individual strengths. Foster teamwork and collaboration.
- Define Your Vision: Start with a clear understanding of the problem and your solution. Focus on ideas that will make a significant impact. Take in feedback appropriately to refine your ideas.
- Master Your Pitch: Practise your presentation to communicate your solution and market potential clearly.
- Enjoy the Journey: Have fun during the process, make friendships, and create a positive atmosphere within your team.
Connect with Smart Aquaponics
Achraf Ouhdidou
Zakarya Babahaj
Mohamed Amine Zirari
Rania Gouglou
Rania Jaafar
Salma Nazih
Blog Contributor
Ting Ting Liew, Interviewer/Writer
Ting Ting is passionate about social impact, innovation, business development, and the nexus among these three areas. She was previously a Business Partner in Enterprise Singapore, a government agency that champions enterprise growth. Ting Ting graduated from the National University of Singapore with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Social Work. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at Yenching Academy, Peking University. She is currently working on her thesis regarding the development of social entrepreneurship in China. During her free time, you can catch Ting Ting running, doing aerial yoga, or finding the best dessert in town!
